Enriching the fabric of our existence

As long as there has been need in these parts, there have been SLO volunteers lending an open hand and opening a comforting heart

Heroes walk among us. Since they do not wear uniforms or other marks of distinction, their appearance can be deceptively ordinary. It is not always possible to recognize those who weigh the scales a little more heavily toward courage, strength, kindness, generosity, and thus incrementally transform our little corner of the world. Sometimes heroism is visible in eyes that meet the world with a level gaze, or in the set of the shoulders or a laugh–because heroes definitely know how to laugh.

But to really spot heroism, you have to look beyond appearances to a person’s acts: the effort to help, to heal and, yes, raise money for others, to take up the fight for the underdog, or pour extra hours into community involvement. All are signatures of a commitment to live outside one’s personal sphere and act on the desire to make this a better place.

Heroes are not always loved, because to stand for something means to stand against something else. But they are always respected. Here are 10 bunches of SLO County heroes who have won our respect.

Molly Johnson - Granny with gumption

Jim Hofman - Angel with dirty hands

Richard Smith - Doc of the bay

Bull Chaney - Setting right our side-tracked brothers

Bill Denneen - Laughing patron saint of the tree-huggers

Isabel P. Ruiz - Survivor who never surrenders

Mary Gamlin - Bride of humanity

Pearl and Edwin Munak - North County's do-good cooks

Roy Ogden - Angels' feisty sidekick

Jennifer Branes and Richard Arfa - Country cousins to streetwise kids

Three ways you can help, too

Mentor an at-risk youth. Right now, Planned Parenthood of San Luis Obispo is recruiting volunteer mentors to work with at-risk youth who have graduated from RESPECT, a 10-week life skills and personal empowerment program that has been highly successful. Mentors are needed to keep the energy going! Mentoring commitments can be as minimal as one hour per week and all mentoring expenses are paid for by Planned Parenthood. Volunteers are needed for the Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo and San Luis Obispo areas. For more info, call Kitty Farhar at 549-9446, ext. 108.

Do you have good memories of hanging out with your big brother or big sister and reading, playing games, cooking, exploring computers, sports or art projects? Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County is looking for volunteers to do just that at Dana, Grover Heights, Nipomo or Oceano elementary schools. Volunteers can make a big difference for a child. For more info, email [email protected] or call 781-3226.

The Collaboration Forum, scheduled for Jan. 14 and 15, is a wonderful opportunity for volunteering. It also gives those in the non-profit community a chance to learn how to become more effective in their jobs. The Forum brings together the whole non-profit community for a day and a half. For more info, call Debra Braskett at 928-2503 (work) or 837-6298 (home).

–Anne Quinn