The group Manna, composed of Sarah Gabaldon, Becky Green, and Mynde Burke, provided music during the HutchCares appreciation banquet held Tuesday evening at Fairlanes Baptist Church.
Photo by Don Rice

By Michelle Berry
Reporter
One of Borger’s local organizations took time out to show appreciation to its volunteer base.

HutchCares held its volunteer appreciation banquet Tuesday evening at Fairlanes Baptist Church, who also provided the meal for several citizens who were in attendance.
HutchCares was founded in 2002 by Dr. Paul Anderson, pastor of Keeler Baptist Church, and various civic leaders, and is a volunteer organization that focuses solely on helping senior citizens 65 years of age and older remain in their homes.
The organization’s goal is for senior citizens to live safely and independently in their homes for as long as possible.
Volunteers with the organization help senior citizens with the normal everyday types of things, such as reading, correspondence, friendly visits, home maintenance, shopping, telephone reassurance, mail management, ramps and railings, and transportation.
The organization abides by the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and making sure consent, caring, and mutual respect are the basis of all relationships. It also helps people stay out of expensive facilities, allowing them to continue to live at home, participate in the lives and economies of their communities and receive assistance as needed from their families and neighbors. Its aim is to provide services that will ultimately help avoid caregiver burnout.
Throughout the course of the evening, Kim Cook, who is director of the organization; and Dee Duncan, who is a board member and does office operations for HutchCares received recognition for their efforts.
Dr. Anderson shared a little about the mission of the organization, and also allowed local citizens to express their appreciation. Norma Bruce expressed her thankfulness for work that HutchCares volunteers came and did on her home, and Margie Nevell also expressed her gratefulness to the organization for their efforts.
Dr. Anderson also shared some grateful words from Byron Swafford. Swafford was not able to be at the banquet, but wanted the organization to know how much he appreciated their work in taking care of his father, who recently passed on.
Ted Wilson, pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist Church, said because of the efforts of HutchCares, the word has spread, and several such organizations are being started throughout towns around Borger. He said he feels the organization has truly touched the lives of others.
“HutchCares is a great ministry to the community,” he said.
In addition to the banquet, a silent auction was also held on behalf of the organization with various items up for bid, everything from dust busters to gift certificates to cakes to vouchers for the Amarillo Symphony. Over 100 items were up for bid during the silent auction.
The audience was treated to entertainment throughout the evening, as the Manna Trio performed, along with Wilson and his wife Jody. Jody also provided piano music throughout the course of the meal.