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November 28, 2003
Street Talk by Shari Kaplan
Since we're entering what is often called the “season
of giving,” what type of community service or volunteer work
do you do, or have you done in the past?
(Asked at Almaden Center.)
"We volunteer for Friends Together. Our family adopts a family
for the holidays each year. Sometimes the needs of these families
is daunting. You provide gifts for the different family members
and grocery store gift certificates. Also, at our school, Simonds
Elementary, the kids collect food for Second Harvest Food Bank.
And my daughter Hannah participated in a coat drive for the Almaden
Service Unit of the Girl Scouts. It makes me feel so great to help
other people!"
Kristine Henry, 37
Almaden Valley
Homemaker
"I think volunteerism begins at home. I take care of my mother,
who has diabetes. She doesn't drive, so I take her shopping and
to doctor's appointments and things like that. In the past, I used
to volunteer as a hostess for the snack ministry at my church; I'd
make coffee and greet people and prepare food. I did that for about
eight years. In general, I don't think the spirit of giving should
just be in December; I think it should extend throughout the year!"
Glenda Brown, 45
Cambrian
Caregiver/homemaker
"I work on the scholarship committee for the American Association
of University Women. Each AAUW scholarship is for a young woman
to attend a four-year college who is majoring in sciences or a related
field. I'm a psychotherapist by occupation and I also do some pro
bono psychotherapy; I used to work for Student Health Services at
a community college but the counseling program got cut."
Sharon Honegger, 65
Almaden Valley
Psychotherapist
"When I was a student at Leland High School, I did some volunteering
on Election Day at polls at the Greek Orthodox Church over on Bose
Lane. It was a requirement at the school that everyone do some type
of community service. I greeted people, checked them in, made sure
they had the voting materials, and took their ballots after they
were done. It was kind of cool, doing something like that."
Jason Runco, 24
Almaden Valley
Marketing
"I've chaired a couple of committees for the music boosters
club at Castillero Middle School. The kids wouldn't be able to perform
without our help. I'm also involved in the Almaden Valley Counseling
Service Auxiliary. It provides services like counseling for children
and teens, parenting classes and a new geriatric advisory program.
This March we're having our biennial Snow Ball fundraiser, and I'm
the general chair."
Amy McCafferty, 42
Almaden Valley
Interior designer
"I used to work in a center for kids from single-parent homes.
The most rewarding thing was seeing and learning that other people
have more problems than I do, because I was kind of selfish back
then. If I were to do volunteer work this year, it'd be working
with kids living in a group home or orphanage. Giving presents and
money is one thing, but donating your time is much better and more
personal."
Damien Repass, 18
Sunnyvale
Student and entrepreneur
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