TULALIP – One day, when Irene Anderson was feeling down, she called Homage Senior Services volunteer Marsha Hicks to tell her not to come over.

Hicks didn’t answer the phone.

“She made my day when she came,” Anderson said Tuesday afternoon. “She listens. She cares. She’s just a joy.”

Anderson said because of health issues some days she just wants to “crawl back in bed.” “But she comes in – bubbles,” she said of Hicks.

The nonprofit Homage needs more volunteers like Hicks, especially in Arlington, where there is a waiting list of 15 who want help, said Mary Ann Higgins, coordinator for the Senior Companion Program. The program is free, paid for by a federal grant. Qualified volunteers can get a small stipend. Volunteers help seniors stay in their homes, rather than having to move to a more-costly facility.

Hicks, who is retired, was looking around for somewhere to help out and thought of the elderly. Many are isolated and can’t drive so they never leave the house, she said.

Volunteers, who go through background checks, attend training sessions to learn their roles.

“You are not the maid,” they are told, Hicks said, adding it is OK to help with minor chores if it would help.

One of the big things they learn is not to handle any money for the client. “That’s a huge problem with older people,” Hicks said. “People can abuse their trust.”

Volunteers can’t even take money out of an ATM for clients.

“They make sure no hanky panky is going on,” she said.

Anderson and Hicks have been working together for nine months. Both say it’s a great fit. Anderson said she fell way behind so had to close her sewing business because of depression.

“I had no energy to put things away,” she said. “It was nice to have somebody come in.”

Like the title of the program says, it’s mostly about companionship.

“Marsha’s interesting to visit with – she’s traveled so much,” Anderson said.

Along with talking, Hicks also helps with transportation, such as going to the store, library or doctor. They also walk Anderson’s 110-pound blue great dane, Sadie.

This is not the first Homage program Anderson has been a part of. After a sister died, she received counseling for a number of months. He was the one who actually recommended this program to Anderson.

The counselor got Anderson on a program to set goals and chart them. Hicks helps with that.

“She corrects me sometimes, but she’s lovely about it,” Anderson said of Hicks.

Anderson said Hicks uses tough love in other ways.

“She’s brave enough to say, ‘You need to get rid of this. You have too much stuff,’” Anderson said, adding they give clothes away to Value Village, Goodwill and the YWCA.

“She meets me where I am. She doesn’t bulldoze me.”

Anderson said Hicks is a good storyteller. She especially likes hearing about her trips to France.

“She brings another world into my world,” she said. “She makes you feel like you’re there.”

Hicks spends about three hours a week with Anderson. She also has one other client. She said Homage would like her to volunteer more hours, but she doesn’t want it to become “an imposition.” She called herself an introvert who just can’t “give and give and give and give” like some volunteers do.

“I would be miserable,” she said, adding some volunteers are amazing “how they can help everybody.”

Hicks said she learned to say “no” while working as a support person doing office work. “Some women never learn that,” she said.

Homage’s companion program has only been in Snohomish County for 2 1/2 years. Hicks is the only volunteer as far north as Marysville. So, there definitely is a need.

“We’re working on growing volunteers,” Higgins said.

Benefits of being a Senior Companion

•Receive $2.65 an hour tax-free and gas reimbursement.

•Develop friendships and help your community.

•Receive ongoing training.

To get the stipend

•Must be low-income, $2,010 a month or less

•Be age 55 or older.

•Serve at least 15 hours per week.

•Attend orientation and monthly meetings.

If interested call Mary Ann Higgins at 425-879-7050.