Recently in Volunteers Category

Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of Big Swing Band music performances at El Dorado Community Center with Fred Nied, 92, setting the pace. Fred, a retired cruise ship captain, organized the swing band of retired seniors, all professional musicians, and he hasn't missed a beat after 1,650 performances

   ... Ceci Julian

Long-time Long Beach resident Judith Haywood-Johnson, president of the Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows of Inglewood and Vicinity, was honored by the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California. She received a plaque presented by its president, Bishop L. Daniel Williams which said, ``...for your outstanding community service in making this world a better place to live, work, and play.'' Judith is a nurse who teaches her patients at the Health Care Partners cardiac care unit how to stay healthy after illness. She and her husband, the Rev. D. Lyle Johnson, are proud grandparents of 20 or more grandchildren. Judith serves in many capacities in the church; she is especially honored to be on the Mothers' Board of the New Hope Baptist Church of Long Beach and served on its Pulpit Search Committee.

   ... Dorothy Marks-Fontenot

   

Help Somebody Ministries sponsors a clothes giveaway every other month at 2091 Lewis Ave. in Long Beach. On Aug.22, we sponsored a Clothes and School Supplies Giveaway. God truly blessed us to be a blessing ... we gave out 85 backpacks and school supplies, along with many, many clothing items and shoes. You can see our Web site at www.helpsomeministry.com.

   ... Pastor Kimberlyn Jones

Members of the Long Beach Fire Department Kid's program, composed of on-duty and off-duty members, participated in the annual Beach Fest Day at Miller Children's Hospital.

   A large conference room was transformed into a tropical beach setting, with the backdrop of a sizable screen projecting moving fish amongst a coral reef. There were balloon dolphins floating through the air, plastic lobsters and crabs on the tables, kiddie pools on the floor, and even food shaped like sea creatures.

   Members from the LBFDKid's and Miller Hospital greeted the children wearing straw hats and leis, and then escorted the children to various activities. Their first activity was to pick either a visor or plastic fire helmet to decorate, which they wore throughout the event, and to receive their very own book bag, with ``goodies'' provided through the generous donations received by the LBFDKid's. Pictures were then taken in grass skirts, between two blown up palm trees, and some of the children chose to hold or pet one of the two ``comfort dogs'' in their pictures

   Kids played games, stopped at a face- painting station, and even saw a large blown bubble presentation. This is a fun event for young and old, and the hospital staff was very gracious in expressing their gratitude for the LBFDKid's participation at this event.

   The next scheduled LBFDKid's event is the Halloween Trick or Treat Day on Oct.31 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

   LBFDKid's volunteers visit the rooms of all the children and then lead a parade throughout the hospital, where children dressed in their costumes trick or treat throughout the facility.