Seniors Aid Group to Honor Supporters

The Organization for the Needs of the Elderly will honor individual volunteers as well as local businesses and organizations for their 1996 contributions at a “hoedown volunteer recognition party” today.

The western-themed event, scheduled by the group to begin at “high noon,” will feature awards for volunteer of the year and the outstanding person in several volunteer categories: staff member, family, rookie and youth. A barbecue lunch donated by Outback Steakhouse and line dancing are planned, said ONE volunteer coordinator Jo Zeitouni.

City Councilwoman Laura Chick is scheduled to present the award for the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.

Only those who have spent at least 100 hours volunteering in 1996 have been considered for awards.

One award winner began volunteering before entering preschool. For a good part of her life, 18-month-old Elizabeth Weinlein has helped her mother, Jill, deliver meals to seniors.

“People just love her,” Zeitouni said. “She sometimes hands them the food or waves to them.”

Area organizations scheduled to be honored include the National Charity League, Girl Scouts, Tierra del Sol Foundation and the Encino B’nai B’rith.

The nonprofit, West Valley-based ONE has a staff of 70 paid workers and 400 volunteers who help senior citizens enhance their quality of life and live independently.