Senior volunteers honored
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers APPRECIATION- Sterling Tigue and Peggy Rothschild, director of the Moorpark Active Adults Center, share a moment during the Senior Volunteer Recognition annual dinner last week. Tigue is an artist who brings his art to the center and helps to clean up after events. "He's a good guy," said Rothschild.

Although they're usually the ones busy helping others, the seniors who attended the Moorpark Active Adults Center's annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner last week were asked to just sit and relax so they could be served.

About 100 people were treated to a fancy dinner and entertainment. They were served by four members of the Moorpark Teen Council while several Moorpark Rotarians volunteered in the kitchen.

"The event is to honor all volunteers who served for 24 hours or more this year," said Peggy Rothschild, the adult center's director.

Invited to the dinner were 139 volunteers who bring the Active Adult Center's programs to life, sharing their talents, enthusiasm and creativity for the benefit of others.

"Without them, it would only be a building in the center of town," Rothschild said.

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers TABLE TALK- Maria Hinodosoa and Beth Pascua socialize during dinner at the Moorpark Active Adults Center. About 100 people were treated to the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner because they help out at the center. The evening also included entertainment by magician Bruce Perovich, a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

In all, these dedicated individuals donated 13,897 hours of service in 2006.

About 42 volunteers together gave an average of 462 hours per month to help with programs and activities.

They taught classes, delivered food to homebound people, helped to prepare and serve about 10,000 meals and assisted with the overall operations of the center, Rothschild said.

"Volunteers are a very special, select group," according to Rothschild. Overall, only 26 percent of the population volunteers, she said.

"Our volunteers are always hard at work. To make programs here possible, we needed a lot of help," Rothschild said.

Some individuals, like Jessie Vasquez, Tony Bellasalma and Carole Woolsey, each volunteered for more than 600 hours last year.

Bellasalma is a Lifeline volunteer who goes to homes to install devices that call for immediate help in case it's needed. He also helps to troubleshoot the devices that aren't functioning, assists with the Food Share program and serves on the Area Agency on Aging, Rothschild said.

Vasquez spends a great deal of time cooking meals in the center's kitchen, and Woolsey, a member of the Senior Advisory Committee, heads up the front desk and newsletter volunteers.