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' • * • • / ; . ; Entertains at Hastings Manor £-i. •i, •( c v At 85, Ray still tickles the ivories for the VON By Barry Ellsworth THE INTELLIGENCER The first letter in VON stands for Victorian, but it could just as easily represent the first letter in 'Volunteers'. Like Ray Jenkins, 85, who tin- kles the ivory for clients at the VON's Aberdeen Place adult day care service in Belleville. Jenkins recalled his first brush with the piano. "I was eight years old," Jenkins said, "and I went four years to lessons." He then quit, but jokes he later saw a piano player surrounded by women and told his mom he want- ed to take lessons again. "Here's this guy, plays the piano (with) girls all around...," the Ken- ron Estates resident said, laughing. The not-for-profit Victorian Order of Nurses thrives on volun- teers, who drive people to medical appointments, provide hot meals and snacks, pet therapy, adult day care and entertainment. This is VON Week, officially proclaimed as such by city council, and Harvey Clue seized the opportunity to say thanks to the approximately 200 VON volunteers in Hastings, "We wouldn't be able to provide Northumberland and Prince the services without the volun- Edward counties. teers," said the head of Aberdeen INTELLIGENCER PHOTO BY BARRY ELLSWORTH Piano player Ray Jenkins volunteers to entertain clients with his musical talent at the VON's Aberdeen Place in Belleville. Place. The adult service on Pinnacle Street South is named for Lady Aberdeen, who founded the VON in 1897. The piano playing Jenkins is a good example of a volunteer, Clue said. Besides laying down tunes at Aberdeen Place since it opened a little more than two years ago, he has regular gigs at eight area nurs- ing homes like the county home in Belleville, arid Belleville and Tren- ton hospitals. "I've been (playing) in Hastings Manor for 22 years," Jenkins said. That's when he and his wife retired here. Jenkins has been widowed for five years, and said his perfor- mances have increased since his wife died. He has two children, four grand- children and one great-grandchild, but so far no one has stepped for- ward to carry on the Jenkins' tra- dition. "None of them play," he said. Meanwhile, there's a message on the blackboard just inside the door at Aberdeen Place that neatly sums up the attitude of the VON. "Today is a gift. That's why they call it a present." It was penned by anonymous, just like the VON volunteers. • P