still solid

Charlie Sheppard spends three days a week visiting residents of nursing homes to play bingo, coordinate dancing and whatever else he can to make people smile.

'It’s important that someone visits them regularly. So many say if we didn’t visit them, no one would.’

Charlie Sheppard, UAW Local 550 retiree

When Charlie Sheppard visited his sister in a nursing home in 1985, he noticed how well the patients were treated. What he saw reinforced his belief in the importance of taking good care of the most vulnerable among us.

Shortly after Sheppard retired in 1999 from the Chrysler Foundry in Indianapolis, the UAW Local 550 member put that lesson to work.

In addition to his duties as financial secretary of Local 550’s retiree chapter, Sheppard became chair of his previous local’s chapter (1226, which was closed) and co-chair of the Buford Holt Nursing Home Group. Holt, a former Local 1226 president, founded the group, which was later expanded to include visits to residents at nine facilities.

From his home base in Indianapolis where he lives with his wife Barbara, Sheppard and a group of other UAW retirees visit 275 residents in area nursing homes.

"I go three times a week and take fruit, play bingo, coordinate religious services on Tuesday and Friday mornings, bring in entertainment, such as dancing groups and movies, and we provide cake and ice cream each month," said Sheppard, 70.

They also give residents a holiday gift and spend at least $20 on each.

"We give them anything we think they need. It’s important that someone visits them regularly," added Sheppard. "So many say if we didn’t visit them, no one would."

A member of the UAW International Retired Workers Advisory Council, Sheppard also is vice chair of the UAW Indianapolis Area 11 retiree chapter and a member of the Region 3 CAP Council Executive Board. He also serves his community as a member of the Southside Democrats and the Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association for underprivileged young men.

And he’s a deacon at his church. "It’s a blessed thing to make someone happy who is less fortunate," he said.

Joan Silvi

To keep up with what UAW retirees are doing, visit the UAW.org retiree section