By HARRIET MIRANDA

It is fair to say that diversity is largely embraced by Americans due to the hundreds of years of migration of peoples of all backgrounds since its foundation. As American culture becomes saturated with influences from all ethnic backgrounds, society as its been known is changing in a rapid and drastic way. While most people would consider this an example of progress and that change is good, a recent study by Harvard professor Robert Putnam in 2007 said that “The declining civic participation in American societies can be attributed to widespread mistrust in communities due to so much diversity…” he went on to say that because of this there is a decline in civic participation and that people are less likely to participate in group activities, voting, and even elections.

The neighborhood of Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley is a staple of the melting pot communities in modern society. Demographic information for the San Fernando Valley Economic center in 2006 shows that in Van Nuys and Reseda combined there are 41.2% Caucasian, 10.1% Asian, 4.4% Black, and 57.8% are Latino.

Despite its diversity, Van Nuys volunteer organizations seem to be proving Putnam’s findings wrong with the many volunteer organizations in the city and the wide range of services they provide for people of all ages. One of the organizations I found is The Volunteer League of the San Fernando Valley. Established over 50 years ago, it now has three main programs geared toward helping out local children and also senior citizens.

“Our main project is Clothes Corner,” said Betty Koondel, vice president of the league, in a telephone interview. “We clothe children from LAUSD, needy children referred by the principal, a social worker or the school nurse.” Koondel, a retired teacher who worked for LAUSD for 35 years, said the children are able to come in and choose a brand new school outfit, “We clothe them with a uniform, a polo shirt and a pair of navy blue pants or a skort for girls, socks, underwear, and toiletries, a backpack, we also give them a sweat outfit jacket and pants. The children also get a brand new pair of athletic shoes, a book and a toy,” said Koondel. Since last September the organization has clothed 1,742 children.

The other two projects are Kids on the Block, an educational puppet program designed to teach youngsters about disabilities. The last project they have is a choral music group called The Troopers, “They go to different convalescent homes and assisted care facilities and sing songs and holiday songs to the elderly,” said Koondel. “It really gives a wonderful feeling to the elderly.”

The league consists of 25 members who put together fundraising events to keep the programs running. The members are all women and come from different backgrounds. “Quite a few we have right now are retired teachers but there are all from different fields,” said Koondel, “everyone that is there has a feeling that they’d like to give back to the community and they’d like to help and work with kids…the smiles are just so rewarding.”

Koondel says there are many community members who enjoy giving back and don’t necessarily join the league. “We really emphasize we need members, they keep our organization going,” said Koondel.

A similar volunteer organization in Van Nuys is ONE Generation. Started in 1975 by senior volunteers they now have a number of programs that help the elderly and children of all ages. According to Volunteer Coordinator Amber Fuellenbach, in an e-mail interview, “ONE began as Organization for the Needs of the Elderly primarily serving seniors. We later added the childcare in a shared setting with the adult day care where the children and seniors of that program meet daily for activities.”
Fuellenbach said the volunteer age ranges from just 14 years old to 100 years old, and they currently serve about 600 people a month in both of their locations in Van Nuys and in Reseda.

Giovanni Chavira, 19, is a Pierce College student who volunteers at ONE three times a week for about 14 hours. When I met him, Chavira sat in the activity center playing dominoes with an elderly man. “They always have fun when they’re with kids,” Chavira said, “They feel young again especially when they beat me at the game.” This isn’t the first time Chavira volunteers, he has also volunteered to prepare taxes for free at another organization. Although he is currently completing hours for a political science class, Chavira has found the experience so fulfilling he is willing to come back when he’s finished with the 48 hours that are required of him. “It’s fun to volunteer and give back,” he said.

Barbara Hindoyan, a volunteer at ONE has been dedicating hours to this organization for 2 ½ years. Hindoyan has done volunteer work since she retired from working for the county as a social worker. When I asked her opinion of Putnam’s findings she said, “I don’t think it’s that people don’t care I think most of us can’t find the information we need, where we can find a good organization.” Hindoyan said this is important because at other organizations their attitudes toward volunteers were careless and didn’t inform them when they would be closed and other essential information. To Hindoyan it is important to volunteer to have something to do, “Once you’re not working yourself you don’t have a lot to do to fill up your time,” she said, “this is a very well run organization they manage to keep [the elderly] busy not just sitting around being watched.” Hindoyan comes every Tuesday and Thursday, on Thursday’s she said they play a Spanish version of bingo, something she is familiar with since she was born in Mexico. At this organization, they do exercise, they sit down for tea, and have joint activities such as painting, with toddlers from the daycare.

Felicia Woodall,29, is the activities leader at the ONE daycare center, and says that in the six years she’s worked there she’s seen volunteers of all ethnicities and ages come and go. “They are mainly students,” she said, “Some going into healthcare and rehabilitation.” She also told me about a teenager that volunteered there, “She was bad,” Woodall said about that student, but said that after volunteering there the student went to college and turned her life around. “People are concerned with the recession and turn to volunteering with their free time,” said Woodall , and people volunteer because they feel good “giving back to better someone’s life.”

Racquel Decipeda Volunteer Services Coordinator for the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles, said in an e-mail interview, that there are different reasons why people choose to volunteer. “Students may have hours to complete for school, they simply just want to volunteer in their community, some use volunteering to enhance their resumes, or a retired person who want to continue on having something to do and contribute to the community.” The Volunteer Center of Los Angeles supply volunteers to different organizations in the city. One in Van Nuys that they help is the Mary Magdalene Project which helps to rehabilitate prostitutes and take them off the streets. Dr. McCombf, the executive director of the organization, said since its inception in 1980 they have helped some 1,000 women. Volunteers at this organization are also from diverse backgrounds and ages and help out with fundraising events, tutoring and mentoring some of the women. They also serve by driving them to job interviews and other engagements.

These organizations like are largely helped by the time and effort of volunteers of all backgrounds. Without a doubt volunteers are at the heart of the success of many organizations in order to reach and better serve the elderly and less fortunate. There are no specific age limitations, there are no gender or race biases, they are all united one common cause to better the lives of others.

The Volunteer League of the San Fernando Valley is located at 14603 Hamlin St, Van Nuys, CA‎ – (818) 785-4134‎
Photostream by Harriet Miranda

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Tags:  Amber Fuellenbach Betty Koondel Giovanni Chavira ONE Generation San Fernando Valley Van Nuys Volunteer Center of Los Angeles Volunteer League volunteers