The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District’s Board of Directors recognized District volunteers on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Hayward Area Senior Center. Over 400 volunteers were invited to the Brunch and Ceremony. There were nearly 1,000 registered volunteers last year, who donated in excess of 76,000 hours in 2011. Volunteers are a vital part of the District, they volunteer in the aquatics, arts, camps, dance, and special needs program, theatre arts, gymnastics, nature, parks, youth, sports and senior adults programs. Their dedicated volunteer service allows our District to fulfill its mission, which is to enrich the quality of life for our community by providing a variety of recreation activities, parks and facilities that promote health, wellness, learning and fun. The “Volunteers of the Month” were recognized as was the Volunteer of the Year.
The volunteer of the year is selected out of the 12 Volunteers of the Month. Joel Ellioff was honored with the “Volunteer of the Year” Award. He is currently a volunteer in the Senior Adult Program, volunteering at the Hayward Senior Center and the Kenneth Aitken Senior Center. He volunteers in a variety of our Senior/Active Adult programs including the trips and tours program, the nutrition/luncheon program and in the woodshop program at the Hayward Area Senior Center.
Joel is a volunteer driver in the trips and tours program that is offered from the Hayward Senior Center and the Kenneth Aitken Senior Center. The day trips scheduled gives seniors the opportunity to visit places in the bay area that they may not normally be able to visit, due to driving limitations. Places visited include museums, cultural attractions, gardens and much more. Joel is always courteous to participants and attentive to their needs. Being a volunteer driver is a lot of responsibility and effort.
On the Tuesdays and Thursday when Joel volunteers in the woodshop, he uses his lunch break to volunteer in the Hayward Senior Center kitchen. He helps serve a hot nutritious luncheon to many senior citizens, who often get one hot nutritious meal a day. Another job that Joel volunteers for that holds a great amount of responsibility is being a woodshop volunteer and monitor. Joel works at least two days a week at the Hayward Senior Center woodshop, he makes sure that participants have signed up for the safety training course, he monitors all participants ensuring they are using the machinery safely and also inspects equipment to make sure it is safe to use.
In addition to his volunteer time with HARD, Joel also volunteers many hours with the California Highway Patrol.
The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District is fortunate to have such a dependable, respectable person who volunteers their time and efforts to help our District maintain the high quality programs that enrich the quality of life for our community, especially the senior citizens. Congratulations Joel! |
