Community involvement is the solution to an indifferent, numb and suspicious Bermudian community that has grown apart.

That was the view of Mrs. Terry Pearman-Castle -- a volunteer coordinator of Agape House -- who addressed Hamilton Rotary Club members at The Princess this week.

"We are loosing trust in one another and we are losing our most precious resource, our children,'' Mrs. Pearman-Castle said.

She explained that Bermudians can begin to heal themselves and the community by being of service and giving unconditional love through volunteering.

She noted that as people reached out and touched a part of the community -- through direct involvement -- awareness would occur.

People can then step out of their individual world and become a part of their families, parishes, and the world community as well as bring a certain peace to themselves, Mrs. Pearman-Castle added.

"In volunteering we divert attention from our own hectic lives to begin to see the exceptional qualities in others,'' she said.

In addition to prompting individuals to count their blessings, Mrs.

Pearman-Castle pointed out that volunteering allowed people to relax and realise that things were not so bad after all.

She said as a result of such relaxation all of the stress in the body diminished.

Mrs. Pearman-Castle urged Rotarians to "reach out, give someone a helping hand''.

She also discussed the patient care programme at Agape House, where volunteers sit, read or just pray with a resident of the hospice as they approach death.

The volunteer coordinator said this type of service was ideal for the type of person who was a go-getter, someone who never sat still and must have everything finished yesterday.

Mrs. Pearman-Castle cited as an example a gentleman who said he liked visiting a friend in the hospital because it was the only time he would give himself to just sit down and chat. She said it gave his body and mind time to relax and heal.