Helping from the heart

Catherine Wawro is seen in Kirst Hall at Hutchins Street Square. Wawro volunteers with the 50 Plus Club and Lodi Community Center. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Helping from the heart

Local senior, who feels a calling to help others, enjoys volunteering for several organizations

By Pam Bauserman
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Friday, January 4, 2008 6:45 AM PST

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Catherine Wawro thinks of volunteering as a calling.

"It is a heartwarming sensation," she said. "It just makes me feel good to help (people) out and do what I can."

Wawro, 83, has been a volunteer for eight years at the LOEL Center, where she helps out in the kitchen. She is also a member of the 50 Plus Club and enjoys assisting the club with their activities.

Q: How long have you volunteered at the LOEL Center, and how did you get involved?

A: It has been approximately eight years or so. Actually, it was through the 50 Plus Club. One of the members was a coordinator for the kitchen crew. She asked me if I would do it. We work two Mondays a month on the second and third Mondays. If there are five, we work a third. We also do fund-raiser dinners once a month.

Q: What kinds of things do you do?

A: If we need to help prepare the food, it's a matter of cutting and serving. If there's a cake, we put on the cream and stuff like that — the fancy things. When we had parties in the garden, we were totally involved — serving and everything. I'm also on the Senior Advisory Board.

Q: What is your role in the 50 Plus Club?

A: I'm serving my second term on the board. I'm also the kitchen supply person. That's quite an endeavor. I try to find items on sale.

I also assist with bingo, which is their big activity.

Q: Do you volunteer for any other groups?

A: Recently, I started working for the Lodi Community Center. I do the preparing of the food boxes for the needy. There are quite a few of us. It's enjoyable to see we can help in that way.

Last year, I helped sign up people who came to register for the food items. I had to check IDs and make sure they qualify.

Also, I am very active in the Moose Lodge. I have held chairs for the last nine years, either as an officer or a chairperson. There are two men's groups that meet there and I help serve for them. Also, the Mental Health Department has a Thanksgiving dinner there every year and I help with that.

Q: Why do you choose to volunteer?

A: Actually, I think it's because I have all this free time. I'm retired as an elementary school teacher. I've done all the crafting I want to do. We used to travel but don't anymore, so I have more freedom. I don't like to watch TV but I do enjoy reading.

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: It was a Christmas story. I'm going to be picking up Danielle Steel's "Amazing Grace," which is her newest. I also enjoy Nicholas Sparks.

Q: What has been the most exciting thing that has happened while volunteering?

Catherine Wawro at a glance

Age: 83.
Family: Married for 61 years; has two children.
Education: Buffalo State College.
Hobbies: Reading, crafting, traveling and doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles.

A: What happened to me and how I started volunteering ... I had a friend suffering from Parkinson's Disease. She was in need of therapy. I happened to be there when the therapist was and I said, "I can do this." So three times a week, I went and sat and talked with her. I helped her with her physical therapy. That's what got me started volunteering.

Q: What is the best decision you have ever made?

A: Probably marrying my husband. We've been married for 61 years and they have been very precious years.

Q: Which celebrity would you most like to meet?

A: I admire Julie Andrews. I have seen ("The Sound of Music") so many times. I just admire what she does in life and I love her singing. Of course, I taught music to kids — the "Do Re Mi."

Q: Where did you teach?

A: I taught at Needham for 22 years and at Washington for the last several years.

Q: What did you enjoy the most about teaching?

A: I felt like a second mother. Sometimes kids would come to school without breakfast or would come with egg still on their face. I enjoyed mothering them. I loved my job. I was the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Q: What would you like to see for the future of the 50 Plus Club?

A: I'd like to see them grow in membership. I think we need that. We also need other activities besides bingo. That seems to be the mainstay of it.

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