11/21/2024
Meet our Team!
Pat Blubaugh Senior Companion Program Director, Stark and Summit Counties Family and Community Services
Pat Blubaugh serves as the Senior Companion Program Director for Stark and Summit Counties at Family and Community Services. She began her journey with the organization as a Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) volunteer for two and a half years before transitioning to the role of Senior Companions Stark Coordinator. On March 12th, Pat will celebrate her fifth anniversary with the organization.
Pat's pathway to Family and Community Services was initiated by her time as an FGP volunteer, where she discovered a passion for serving her community. When asked about her favorite aspect of her job, Pat enthusiastically shares, "Meeting the people, volunteers, and clients." She finds immense gratification in hearing volunteers express how much they benefit from helping others. However, Pat faces the ongoing challenge of balancing the number of volunteers with the needs of clients. Ensuring there are enough volunteers to meet the demand and enough clients to engage the volunteers remains a delicate task.
Pat is divorced and has three children, 30 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, with another on the way. Her little Carkie, Grace (a mix of Cairn Terrier and Yorkie), keeps her on her toes. In her spare time, Pat enjoys knitting blankets for her great-grandchildren.
Although she misses working with children as an FGP volunteer, she continues to serve in her church's Kids Ministry. Pat works part-time and loves the flexibility it offers. Her colleagues describe her as very detailed and organized, excellent with paperwork, and caring, kind, and outgoing. She is well-acquainted with her community and volunteers, always asks insightful questions, and is a reliable go-to person within Stark County. Her coworkers appreciate her partnership and the efficiency and effectiveness they achieve by working together.