Eddie Pinckney (80) is a veteran of the Air Force and Navy, a retired engineer, and a cancer survivor.Nowadays when Eddie isnt at Coors Field, where he is widely beloved as the Rockies #1 Usher, he spends his time volunteering at the Senior Planet Center in Lowry, CO.We caught up with Eddie to talk about why he loves volunteering at Senior Planet!What are your volunteer responsibilities at Senior Planet?I do whatever they want me to! I work the front desk.
I register people for classes.I greet people as they come in.Make sure the coffee is ok.
And just talk to everybody!They all know my name.They kind of make me happy by calling me by my first name.I call them by their name.
And just see how life is going.You act as the bouncer for the Senior Planet Social Club in Colorado.What are those events like?Its a gathering place.When I was a kid, we would have dances in the gym.
And all the guys would be on one side, and all the women on the other side.We would look at one another, then all of a sudden, we might start dancing.But the socials here, everybody gets together and talks.Some of the people bring in stuff to eat, and we just have a good time.
Sometimes I tell jokes.Its all just a party atmosphere!Why do you love volunteering?I get to talk to people, and theres some other military personnel who come in and we kind of just chit-chat.See how things are going.Also, I have this smartphone.
And I know what troubles I have with it.So, by helping other people, and by directing the people, in what classes or lectures we are having on that day, it helped me by helping them.And then, when someone is new, I give them a tour of the place.I try to make everybody be relaxed and feel welcomed.
And I think I do an okay job.Because I know what I love.What does aging with attitude mean to you?Im still getting smarter and Im still learning more about life.Pam Hugi is Senior Planets Community and Advocacy Manager.Based in Brooklyn, she is a contributing writer for this site.
Publisher: Senior Planet ( Read More )
