July Volunteer of the Month, Elsie Gurney has the nickname of "Jack of All Trades" at the Senior Citizen Center. It is not unusual that she spends 50 - 60 hours a month at the Center sharing her talents. It all started with the Center's Soup Kitchen. After volunteering at the Soup Kitchen she could not say "no" when asked to help.

Gurney can be found helping to fold and label the monthly newsletters, answering the phone in the office, calling BINGO on Fridays and assisting on Tuesdays, and helping to set up for the monthly pancake supper.

When it comes to the Center's Craft Room, Gurney, as Co-Chair, knows the answers. She keeps it organized, gets the supplies and prepares the crafts to be made. Not only does she organize the crafts, she also makes her share of them. When the crafts are completed she also organizes the Bazaar where the crafts are sold. Gurney is constantly seeking new ideas for crafts. When she travels, she is checking out the sights but also looking for decoration, quilting, craft or stamping ideas to bring back to the Craft Room.

As a Nutrition Committee member, Gurney has the opportunity to review the menus and assist with table favors to make the tables festive. Helping out in the kitchen and the nutrition office is part of her volunteering too. She was elected and served for six years on the Board of Directors. She has been a member of the Senior Citizen Center since 1989 - joining shortly after she retired from working as diet technician at the Human Services Center.

Elsie Gurney is greatly appreciated at the Senior Citizen Center with her contagious smile and willingness to help wherever and whenever she can. She likes to volunteer because it "keeps your mind occupied and keeps you young"! She encourages more people to volunteer. Her son, Doug, asked her, "If you didn't volunteer, what would you do?" She is a role model to her family and to all that know her.