Volunteer Spring

While Jill waited impatiently for Saturday to arrive so that she could begin her volunteer work at the Overton State Hospital for the Mentally Retarded, she daydreamed of bringing love and beauty to the residents. Miss Robinson, an occupational therapist at the hospital, had lectured to Jill's eighth grade class about the need for volunteers. Jill and two friends grasped excitedly at this chance to help others.
But the reality of Overton was not at all what Jill expected. The sights, sounds, and odors of the state hospital were overwhelming, and all Jill wanted was to leave the institution and to stay away. However, convinced by Miss Robinson that she should keep trying, Jill returned to Overton each Saturday through the Spring semester. Her experiences there taught her a great deal about the mentally retarded as well as a great deal about herself.