Bingo Volunteer Jerry Green

Jerry Green plans his day around bingo games on Tuesdays. Green isn't there to play, though. He's there to spin the basket and call out numbers and letters for the players.

 

Green spends about four hours a week as a volunteer for the Alabama Head Injury Foundation support group, donating his time to be the primary voice for bingo games, socializing with group members and helping out where needed.

The 67-year-old Mobile man volunteers with the AHIF Recreational Support Group for Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury. The group meets once a week at Regency Church of Christ on University Boulevard.

"Jerry has helped any way he can," said Teresa Roberts, resource coordinator for AHIF.

Roberts said Green's volunteer service to the group goes beyond the weekly meetings.

"He has carried clients home after meetings and takes them to the grocery store," said Roberts.

She's even called on him in a pinch.

"One time I needed to get a mattress to a client and Jerry helped me deliver it," said Roberts.

"He's more than willing to do anything we need," said Ron Haynes, traumatic brain injury coordinator with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. "We don't know what we would do without him."

Green started volunteering three years ago when he saw a story in the Press-Register about the AHIF.

A retired insurance adjuster, Green called to offer his time.

"Having a head injury of sorts myself, it struck my interest," said Green, who started having seizures 17 years ago.

Green said he was at work one day when co-workers noticed something was wrong.

"I would just quit communicating with you and it would all go blank," said Green during a recent support group meeting.

He said he noticed the symptoms getting worse.

"I couldn't remember how to get to the doctor's office," recalled Green, who was eventually given medication to control the seizures.

Melissa Slater, chairwoman of the steering committee to raise funds for AHIF, said Green is always willing to help raise money for the group.

"Anytime we have a fundraiser he is right there, whether it's to pick items up for a sale or to help sell items," she said.

Slater said the money they raise goes toward financial aid for services for people with traumatic brain injuries, for people in the support group and those who are homebound and can't physically come to the meetings.

"We raise funds not only for our socialization group, but for people who don't have insurance," she said.

Slater, whose son is a member of the head injury support group, said she's seen the way Green interacts with the members.

"He's very compassionate," said Slater. "If they're having a bad day, he listens to anything they have to say.

"He's nonjudgmental, no matter what's going on in their lives."

Green said he gets "personal satisfaction" out of volunteering his time once a week.

"It's just a pleasant group to be with," he said minutes before taking over his duties to call a bingo game. "If it wasn't, I wouldn't be here."