For 35 years, Keith “KC” Chatfield had been a radio disc jockey, and was clipping right along entertaining morning audiences on WPAY FM when the rug got pulled out from under him — the station sold. He was out of a job. He had done some work for the STAR Inc. portion of the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities program, so it was a natural move on his part to go to work for the agency full-time.

Several years ago, Chatfield began taking his music to Best Care in Wheelersburg where he deejayed playing music to entertain the residents.

“It started out somebody was paying me to go,” Chatfield said. “And then it ended up no one was paying me so I just went up on my own nickel.”

When he went to work for STAR Inc., he was working as a janitor during the day, so he couldn’t go up to Best Care during daytime hours anymore.

“They were wanting me to come back. The residents were asking about me and wanting me to come, play,” Chatfield said.

That’s when STAR Outreach was created.

“That’s where I go out as an ambassador for STAR Inc., and we tell them who sent us,” Chatfield said.

“I started out by myself but now we are actually taking some of our consumers along with us to interact with the folks. Our consumers are loving it. The old folks are diggin’ it. They just love it. They want to know how soon we’ll get back.”

For the STAR employees who work as Chatfield’s helpers, Cuck Lansing and Tony Fisher, it’s all fun.

“I love it,” Fisher said. “We have a good time. It makes me feel good.” Lansing agrees with a nod and a smile.

Chatfield said he gets a lot of requests for classic rock, but also gets a good reaction from oldies, and participation songs, such as the Chicken Dance and YMCA.

“I think it’s wonderful what STAR’s doing, bringing their folks here. It’s good for everyone,” said Beth Morgan, activities director of Heartland of Portsmouth. “Music is such a big part of people’s lives. They enjoy it, even if they aren’t dancing. You see toes tapping and arms moving. People sing along. It all helps.”

Heartland resident Naomi Parker agrees.

“I like music,” Parker said, waving her hand to the beat with a smile on her face. Another Heartland resident, Sally Wolfe, likes to dance, and rarely misses the opportunity if she can find a partner.

“Having KC come into Best Care is really a blessing,” Kayla Culp, said activities director at Best Care in Wheelersburg. “The residents cannot wait to see him walk through the door. It allows them to take their minds off things, let loose and have fun.”