Berger Health System - Caring for you, Caring for our Community

Our Medical Staff

Patient and Visitor Information

Press Releases

Circleville Couple Honored for Their Volunteer Service

Circleville, OH -- June 20, 2005 Shelby and Joyce Fraley were recently inducted into the 30th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for their volunteer service in Pickaway County. They were among 12 central Ohioans, age 60 or older, that were recognized by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging for enriching the quality of loves for others in their communities.

Volunteering has become a way of life for the Fraley's. Circle of Caring - Faith in Action nominated them for their extraordinary contributions in direct service to the older adult population of Pickaway County. The Circle of Caring volunteer program focuses on assisting frail, elderly, and disabled community members with maintaining independence so that they can remain in their own homes.

Shelby became a volunteer with Circle of Caring during its inception in 1997, and has since helped with the needs of nearly 90 people. Joyce started volunteering with the program in 2002, upon here retirement from the G.E. Lamp Plant. Now, the couple works as a team on most projects. Joyce is considered the "ultimate" cook, while Shelby engineers numerous jobs ranging from electrical to plumbing; or they simply extend sincere friendship to a homebound individual.

In 2003, the Fraley's were featured in a short TV segment produced by Faith and Values Media and shown on the Hallmark Channel's "New Morning" program. The segment showed the couple's involvement with an elderly lady who is able to remain in her own home because of their assistance. In addition, Family Circle magazine published an article about the Fraley's volunteer assistance. Shelby and Joyce received calls and letters from friends, relatives, and strangers throughout the country, offering appreciation and gratitude for their efforts to make life less challenging and more comfortable for the elderly lady, their now dear friend, Rosanette.

Shelby built a relationship with an elderly man who was wheelchair bound from an auto accident. He took "Ed" to various Masonic activities as they became acquainted through Circle of Caring. When he discovered that Ed was an avid shopper, Shelby included trips to Wal-Mart where Ed could be seen whizzing through the store in a motorized shopping cart, pulling items off the shelves to fill his shopping list. Shelby would make the octogenarian's day by stopping at a restaurant on the return trip home. Channel 10-TV filmed the pair for a feature on the benefit of volunteers to the community.

The Fraley's also positively influenced "Paul", a middle-aged man who is mentally challenged. Because of Shelby, he has discovered the fun and enjoyment of belonging to a fraternal organization such as the Masons. Paul had been a long-time athlete participant in Special Olympics and now is an active supporter as an older adult. He assisted in presenting the Masonic donation check from the Grand Lodge of Ohio at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics for the past two years.

To keep resilient and vital, the Fraley's participate in the daily walking program at the YMCA. In addition to the Masonic groups, Shelby is a Life Member of AMVETS Post 2256 in Circleville, and Joyce is a Life Member of its Ladies Auxiliary. They also volunteer at Berger Hospital, where they have worked at the information desk every Sunday for over two years. These upbeat "doers" are invaluable assets to the entire community as they enrich the lives of others.

For more information about Circle of Caring or how you can become a volunteer, contact Martha Buller at 740.474.7844.