Could you be a friend?

A local organization will have a volunteer training workshop tonight in hopes of finding Lawrence County residents who want to make a difference in the lives of people who may need help the most.

Faith in Action of the River Cities provides non-medical care to home-bound elderly people in Lawrence County, as well as Cabell and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

“This would be transporting people to doctor’s appointments, respite care for family caregivers who just need a break, maybe helping with light household chores, even a friendly visit,” Faith in Action Director Rose Thornburg explained. “This may be cutting hedges and mowing lawns and doing things elderly and handicapped people can’t do.”

Thornburg said FIA, which is funded by area churches, has 210 assistance recipients in the three county area and approximately 100 volunteers. The workshop will be 6-8:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 101 South 6th Street, Ironton. Those who want to be volunteers must undergo a background check. The training workshop will focus on the history of the organization and what is expected of volunteers.

“We’re looking for anyone who wants to share their abilities and a little of their time,” Thornburg said. We have volunteers of all ages, from people in their teens and early 20s to people in their nineties,” Thornburg said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to minister to other people and that is really what we are. We feel this is important since the area has an aging population.”

For more information call Faith in Action of the River Cities at (304) 697-1274.