Several critical services are designed to meet the needs of seniors: One, called Rides & Smiles, relies on volunteers who drive seniors to medical appointments, grocery shopping trips, and other essential errands. It also organizes excursions, which are planned trips to cultural, recreational, and social destinations, helping to combat loneliness and isolation. Overall, the program is designed to be flexible, customizable, and responsive, ensuring that seniors can continue participating in community life, attend appointments, and maintain their independence as long as possible. 

Longtime On the Go volunteer driver Betty Carroll shares her experience driving seniors with Jewish Family Service of San Diego over the years. Those interested in becoming a volunteer driver can call (858) 637-3050 or fill out this form. More information on the On the Go program can be found here.

What made you want to volunteer for this organization?           

I was already a volunteer with two other organizations, but a friend who was a scheduler for Rides & Smiles thought that I needed something else to do! I was somewhat familiar with the program from talking to her, and it sounded like a good way to meet and help some nice people. Plus, I could fit rides around my other obligations.

What do your volunteer duties entail? 

Duties as a driver for Rides & Smiles are easy: contact clients who have requested rides, pick those clients up at an appointed time, drive them to their destination, and sometimes return to take the clients back home again. In my case, I have chosen to exclusively drive a visually impaired man for the last two years and stay with him at his appointments or assist him in grocery shopping.

Can you describe your favorite or most memorable volunteering experience?

It is hard to select a favorite experience. I have met some fascinating people: a 100-year-old gentleman who came to San Diego in his 40s and started a business (when I was driving him, he was going to play bridge every week), and a senior lady (I would rather not disclose her age) who lived in England during WWII, moved to the US in 1947, and had an exciting career path, including some jobs that would have been considered “man’s work” when she undertook them. My most memorable might be helping my visually impaired rider during his mother’s illness and her death.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced?

The biggest challenge is that it’s hard not to want to take as many rides as possible, as so many people need assistance. That is why I have been the exclusive driver for both the “senior lady” and the visually impaired man.

Any advice for someone considering volunteering?

Just do it! You really set your own schedule by accepting only the rides you want to take and you can meet some interesting people along the way.

The post Volunteer Diaries: “On the Go” with Jewish Family Service of San Diego appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Arden Pala, Sports4Kids

Arden Pala has spent countless hours volunteering, founded his own nonprofit, and wrote three children’s books that benefit various charities. He has also spearheaded efforts to fill “bags of hope” for the homeless here in San Diego and for children affected by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey earlier this year—and he’s only 14. 

It all started when Arden was just eight-years-old. His philanthropic spirit was sparked when his parents introduced him to volunteering, serving meals at Interfaith Community Services. The stories he heard from the people he served made an impact on the youngster, and when combined with the support he got from his family, inspired him to do more. He began reading to kids at a school in Barrio Logan and then found another way to help. 

“After I read to some of the students, the principal was walking me and my mom out, and he mentioned that the school didn’t really have an athletics program. He said he was open to anybody who wanted to jump in and help with the kids after school and I thought that was a great opportunity for me to help the community,” he says.

That conversation paved the way for then 11-year-old Arden to launch his nonprofit, Sports4Kids which provides opportunities for youth from low-income families to play sports and beef up their social skills. Arden’s nonprofit also works with other local organizations to host community events and get kids involved in volunteering. 

“It started with just me coming after school Wednesdays and coaching four or five different kids,” he says. “But it grew to something bigger, and we moved to different schools and now we coach over 120 kids every single week.” 

Sports4Kids has garnered the attention of some nonprofit bigwigs around town and counts Lucky Duck Foundation CEO Drew Moser, Interfaith Community Services CEO Greg Anglea, and Michael Brunker, former executive director of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, as advisors. It also has three coaches, volunteers from area high schools who act as assistant coaches, and Arden’s mom, Zeynep Ilgaz, who helps identify grant opportunities. 

The boy wonder of San Diego philanthropy has no plans of slowing down any time soon. All while keeping up with school and his hobbies, basketball, guitar, and ukulele, he plans to expand Sports4Kids to a new elementary school and is exploring the possibility of hosting a back-to-school event to assemble “bags of hope” with school supplies for needy kids.

“I’ve grown accustomed to giving back and after I volunteer, I get this good feeling inside and that good feeling motivates me to do more,” says Arden.  

The post The Young and the Selfless appeared first on San Diego Magazine.