Making a Difference in Your Community : Retirees Give Back to Their Communities

Whether it’s a woman who suffers from multiple sclerosis running exercise classes for others with debilitating diseases or a former attorney who provides free legal aid to the economically disadvantaged, volunteers in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at the Volunteer Center of the San Fernando Valley fill needs that might otherwise go unmet.

“A lot of people think when you retire you just sit in your rocking chair,” said program director Alethea Ludowitz. “That is just a myth. Seniors have a lifetime of experience and education and can give the community so much--and so many are willing to do that.”

At 67, Ludowitz herself has been volunteering at the American Cancer Society for the past five years.

She is one of 1,100 retired seniors who donate their time to more than 250 nonprofit agencies and other institutions throughout the Valley, including public schools, health agencies, homeless shelters and food pantries.

“Nonprofit programs always have used a great number of volunteers,” Ludowitz said. “Now when they’re not able to expand their paid staff, they’re using them even more.”

Seniors who contact Ludowitz are scheduled for an appointment, interviewed and matched with agencies that are as close to their homes as possible. Travel expenses such as bus passes and car mileage are reimbursed, Ludowitz said. “We do our best to place them in positions they are going to enjoy.”

Currently, Ludowitz is looking for West Valley volunteers to help prepare for the Pumpkin Festival in Calabasas in October. Assistance is needed working the phones, filing and doing other office work.

In the northeast Valley, RSVP needs seniors willing to work as teaching and office assistants in several public schools. Volunteers are also needed to teach English; training is provided.

“In the northeast Valley, the vast majority are Spanish-speaking. The parents of young children need to learn English in order to help their kids,” Ludowitz said. “We get people from practically every country in the world who are new residents here, and in order to survive they really need English.”

In return for their time and effort, Ludowitz says, they get to see people learn and progress.

“It really is very gratifying,” Ludowitz said. “And it gives seniors an opportunity to be out in the community, to meet new people and make new friends. It makes them healthier and they live longer.”

Seniors with time to volunteer can contact Ludowitz at (818) 908-5070 for an appointment.

Other volunteer opportunities:

Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles is looking for volunteers in the Glendale area to match with about 350 boys looking for male role models. The private, nonprofit, non-sectarian agency matches carefully screened adult male volunteers over 18 with fatherless boys between the ages of 6 and 12. For further information, call Mary Langford at (213) 258-3333.

The Library Adult Literacy Program of the Los Angeles Public Library, which provides free, one-to-one tutoring in reading and writing for adults, will hold tutor orientation programs on Sept. 30, at the North Hollywood Regional Branch Library at 5211 Tujunga Ave. and on Oct. 5, at the Pacoima Branch Library at 13605 Van Nuys Blvd. Both orientations are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (213) 750-3573.

Men and Women who are interested in becoming docent volunteers at the Los Angeles Zoo can call (213) 664-1100, Ext. 363 for more information.

The nonprofit Dreams to Reality Foundation needs volunteers to help with an upcoming AIDS benefit fund-raiser. For more information, call Chris Spencer at (818) 972-2500, Ext. 106.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.