Nobody should have to die alone.

Carbon County Senior Games participant John Power of Penn Forest Township is one of about a 100 volunteers who are making sure someone is there in a person's final hours.The 79-year-old, former Boston native, and his wife, Betty, are members of No One Dies Alone, a ministry chapter based out of Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.The volunteer program provides companionship to patients who are dying and who would otherwise be alone because they have no family or close friends to sit with them at the end of life.Power said he started volunteering with NODA in the Lehigh Valley after moving here in 2001, but has been with the program since 1993.He and his wife chose to do this because it was their way of giving back after their own personal loss."We lost a grandchild at 3½ years of age," he said. "NODA wasn't formed yet but there were people at that time who were always with my granddaughter, coloring and doing other things (until her passing)."Because of that we decided that we had to give back," he said. "There is a satisfaction when you see the person release themselves and go and you feel like you've done something for them because they have no family or their family couldn't be there."Since then, the Penn Forest Township man has given his time to volunteer to help others, serving as a member of the fire company and as a Eucharistic minister at SS. Peter and Paul's church.This week, Power is taking a break from everyday life and is competing in the Carbon County Senior Games for the 15th year.He enjoys it and said that the event is something all seniors should come out for, whether it is for the competition or just to socialize with friends.For more information on NODA, Power says to contact the Rev. Tim Hasenecz, chaplain and coordinator of the NODA program at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, at 610-402-8000.See page 7 for senior game results.