Superheroes Series: Berea Home Village

Superheroes still exist. 

At Berea Home Village, an organization that helps older Bereans thrive at home, they come in the form of volunteers. 

More than just a service, Berea Home Village exemplifies what it means to be a family and community – sharing grief, joy, and resources together as well as honoring the stories and lives of those loved and those lost.

Members who join are supported through services such as transportation to and from doctor’s appointments and phone call check-ins while they remain in their own homes. 

Rather than a place seniors go to get taken care of, Berea Home Village focuses on enabling people to thrive where they already are.

“It cuts across all kinds of divisions,” Berea Home Village Executive Director Katie Heckman said.  “And even though everyone is 50 years or older, they all have family, a lot of them have grandchildren or neighbors, and so anybody can be involved in the village. 

Though there are membership dues, these fees can be waived in the case of financial hardship.

“We have people who have a hard time scraping enough together every month to pay the rent. 43% of our members pay no membership dues at all. And we waive it – we don’t want anybody to not be a member because they cannot afford it,” Heckman said. 

Sally Hindman, a member who later became a volunteer and board member, said that she initially joined as a member because she had injured herself and needed transportation help.  

“It’s just an irresistible organization,” Hindman said. “The work is so good, and the people are so good.” 

But it’s not only the members that benefit. 

Chuck Morgan, who was the male recipient of Berea Home Village’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award and joined in 2022, said that volunteers do too. 

“It’s a way of giving back to the community, and becoming involved in the life of the community,” Morgan said. “I have met and become acquainted with, and in some cases friends, with people that I would not have encountered otherwise.”

Hindman added that becoming a volunteer has helped her as she grows older. 

“It’s been very instructive for me to be around people who are doing well in their aging process,” Hindman said. “And to be able to help them helps me feel more complete.” 

Volunteering also led her to form close relationships with members. Hindman fondly remembered an older lady she would help to wrap packages for and who shared with her different recipes. 

Cora Leporin, who has been volunteering since 2021 and was the female recipient of the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award, said that she was very impressed with the members’ strength and resilience and learned a lot from them. 

“This woman who had lots of problems and difficulties in her past – I never once in the years that I knew her, never once heard her complain,” Leporin said. “She had the most positive outlook on life that it was remarkable. I learned or tried to learn a lot from her. But that was one of my best experiences.” 

But it can also be an emotional journey.  

Berea Home Village has an annual Service of Remembrance to honor those who have passed away. Heckman said that they also carry the memories of members with them every day. 

“One thing we do is we keep talking about these wonderful people,” Heckman said. “We say their name, in meetings or when we’re thinking of a certain service, and that’s how we keep them alive.” 

And even in private moments, the memories live on in their thoughts. 

“You just remember the good times,” Morgan said. “Once in a while, that memory of a trip to Lexington, or a trip to someplace in Berea, will come back. Yeah, that was a good day, that was a good day, I enjoyed that.” 

At 80 years old, Morgan still gives people rides to doctor’s appointments and helps with transportation. He spends a lot of time listening to members talk while he drives and said that one thing he learned while volunteering for Berea Home Village was to appreciate the inner child that is part of your spirit regardless of your age. 

“One woman told a joke that I wouldn’t have told in a locker room. But it was like well, that was kind of funny,” Morgan said. “You know, no matter how old you are, there is still a child looking for some release.” 

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, member, or contributing to Berea Home Village, you can call Katie Heckman at 859-358-8610. You can visit their website at https://www.bereahomevillage.org/ to learn more. 

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