A good start

Kudos to volunteer Theresa Sardisco and Capt. Daniel Pantoja & staffers Martha Lopez, Mercedes Grey -- and I know I've left out a bunch of others.

And kudos to the nearly 30 people who turned out Saturday afternoon for an informal "meet and greet" session designed to launch a new volunteer effort to assist San Pedro's new city animal shelter. Many of those attending have never volunteered at the shelter before.

The eventual goal is to start up a nonprofit group patterned after the successful "Friends of the Library" groups that operate in so many communities, including throughout the city of Los Angeles. That will make it easier to raise funds in the community that can go specifically to the San Pedro facility.  

Volunteers willing to devote 8 hours a month can indicate preferences for the work they want to do -- bathing dogs, walking dogs, answering telephone calls in the office, helping with mobile adoptions, working with cats or other animals, assisting customers. Training is available. All you have to do is download an application from the city's volunteer information page. Applicants must be 16 or older.

At its heart, volunteerism is all about working on behalf of others without motivation for gain. Commitment, enthusiasm, humility and being a team player are all vital qualities.

Some years ago I volunteered at a Christian soup kitchen in downtown Los Angeles. While being assigned by those in charge to hand out the meals was considered the "best" job, most of us volunteers wound up washing or drying dishes in the back kitchen the entire time. But that was OK. The idea was to do even the smallest chore with cheerfulness, as a service to God and others.

As a first step you might want to visit the shelter (open Tuesday through Sunday) at 957 N. Gaffey St. You can also call the shelter at 1-888-452-7381, Ext. 143 or Theresa, who got the ball rolling on the new volunteer program, at 310-386-7932.

Oh, and by the way -- if you want to jump right in, volunteers are needed to help staff the shelter table at the Taste in San Pedro Aug. 2 & 3.

The animals will thank you!