Sheila Hatchell

Sheila Hatchell spends most of her waking hours volunteering.

The 67-year-old Newport Beach resident was elected president of

Friends of Oasis Senior Center for the third consecutive year this

year. The organization, with more than 5,000 members, is a support

group that predominantly raises funds for the Corona del Mar senior

center.

Hatchell’s main duty as president is to organize the group’s

monthly meeting, which she says is “more like a party.”

“It’s open to all seniors, not just members,” she said. “We get

from 170 to 190 people every month.”

Hatchell gets the place decorated and makes sure there is enough

food and refreshment to go around.

She volunteers with the group about 35 hours a week.

“It’s like a full-time job,” Hatchell said.

And when she’s not in the office, she’s hitting the stores looking

for colorful decorations.

“We always like our meetings to be a fun time for our seniors,”

Hatchell said.

Although she does not get paid in cash or kind for the hard work

she puts in, Hatchell says the pleasure she derives from working with

the seniors more than makes up for it.

“These people are like part of my family,” she said. “They are

like my brothers and sisters.”

Hatchell spent several years as an officer’s wife in the military,

she said.

“That’s how I started volunteering,” Hatchell said. “Volunteer

activities are what make a military base a home.”

She served as president of the American Embassy in London,

organized numerous fund-raisers to keep the bases running and even

ran a thrift shop when her husband was stationed in Europe.

Hatchell moved to Newport Beach about 13 years ago. Apart from her

work at Friends of Oasis, Hatchell is also on the board for Coastline

Community College and organizes two rummage sales every year -- one

for St. Andrew’s Church in Newport Beach and the other for the senior

center.

Hatchell says volunteering is part of who she is.

“I’ve always done it, I guess,” she said. “It’s been a part of my

life.”

Volunteering at the senior center has been emotionally rewarding

for her, Hatchell said.

“I get so many hugs, thank yous, telephone calls and letters,” she

said. “It makes you feel so good.”

-- Story by Deepa Bharath,

Photo by Kent Treptow