Senior Volunteers Honored

Pottstown Area Senior Center Executive Director Brian Parkes, left, presents the volunteer of the year award to Barbara Ridenour during the center's recent volunteer breakfast.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Area Senior Center.

Pottstown Area Seniors’ Center celebrated its many volunteers at a recent breakfast event at the center. 

Nearly 100 volunteers help to run the senior center, including line dancers and singers performing in the community to raise money, lunch volunteers who help serve and clean up, volunteers who fold, seal and mail thousands of newsletters, office helpers, program leaders, and board members, all of whom are critical to the senior center’s operations.

In 2014, volunteers put in more than 10,000 hours, and saved the senior center more than $70,000 in labor and professional services. 

Additionally, volunteers help raise thousands of dollars for the center by redeeming Redner’s receipts, coordinating fundraising events, selling raffle tickets, running craft sales, and in many other ways.

“We couldn’t operate without the dedication of our volunteers,” said Brian Parkes, executive director. “Volunteers are truly the heart of the senior center.”

Barbara Rightnour was named the 2014 Volunteer of the Year. 

Rightnour put in more than 1,600 hours in 2014, working almost daily at the center overseeing the craft room and running the bazaar and craft sale. 

Sales of crafts made by Rightnour and her team raised more than $5,000 last year for the center.

“We clash sometimes over the excessive use of glitter,” Parkes said laughing, “But Barbara is a treasured member and volunteer who works hard to make the senior center a better place.”

Also honored at the breakfast were two long-time board members who recently left the board, Deborah Dollar-Reid who served for 30 years, and Sandra Levengood who dedicated 19 years.