ANGEL WITH AN EDGE

Lana Goodin describes Agnes Bendel as an angel with an edge.

"She's a ball of fire," said Goodin, a nurse at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. "She's an angel to us, but she's got a little edge. That's what gives her and us so much energy."

Bendel has volunteered at the veterans home every day for the past nine years. Her husband, Fred, is a resident in the Alzheimer's wing.

She helps care for her husband and for lots of other residents in the same wing. She helps feed the residents and takes the men for walks.

"She tries to elicit their cooperation, which is sometimes hard to do with dementia patients," Goodin explained. "Agnes knows just what to say to get the guys to cooperate. They look at her like she's everyone's wife. She is just a darling."

In her nine years of volunteering, Bendel has logged over 4,550 hours. She was named Volunteer of the Year at the veterans home and also received the Ageless Hero Award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.

Bendel brushes off the compliments. She arrives each morning at the veterans home ready to help.

"I love to do it," she said. "I do it with my heart. My husband is here, and I care about all the veterans out here."

She also cares about the staff members who care for residents. To say thank you, Bendel is always bringing treats -- chicken and dumplings, homemade rolls, cookies, pies, breads, cakes, and bananas.

"We call it bread and banana day," Goodin said. "It's wonderful for all of us."

Bendel got started bringing treats years ago when she brought a plate of freshly-baked cookies to her husband. "I thought I would give some to the other men," she recalled.

When she asked one resident if he wanted a cookie, he asked if they were homemade. "Oh yes," she said. He was so pleased, Bendel decided to bring homemade treats as often as possible.

Goodin said Bendel's good food and good works make days more pleasant.

"It's good for morale because she has endless energy," Goodin said. "Some people don't like to volunteer in the dementia ward, but she is here every day. And she spends time with everyone."

Bendel also treats the employees like family and isn't afraid to offer her opinion when needed.

This winter, when snow trapped lots of people at home, Bendel volunteered to help out. Someone with a four-wheel-drive vehicle picked her up and Bendel spent the whole day, parts of three shifts, filling in where she was needed.

Bendel said her work is just one way to help those who care for her husband.

"You just don't believe the workers here, all over the building," Bendel said. "The office girls, the kitchen workers, the therapists, the nurses, everyone does such a marvelous job. I just love them all. They really do good work out here."

This week as part of Random Acts of Kindness, Bendel has organized a giant food day. Wives of many of the residents will bring their best foods to treat the employees. Bendel has set serving times to coordinate with all the shifts so no one is left out.

"She doesn't get paid. Very few people see she's doing all this. She's so sweet," Goodin said.

Bendel said, "I have to have something to do, and this is such a wonderful place to be."