News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Penny Anderson has been a volunteer at the Alpena Senior Citizen Center for more than 30 years. She said she began volunteering because she wanted to give back to the community and help the area’s seniors.

ALPENA — For the last three decades, the seniors who visit the Alpena Senior Citizen Center have been greeted by the smiling and welcoming face of Penny Anderson.

Anderson started offering her time and talents to the senior facility 31 years ago as a way to engage with and give back to her community.

Anderson said she is well-versed in many aspects of the services the senior center offers and has lent a hand in many of them. She said she helps with kitchen duties, assists with arts and crafts, or simply oversees a small desk at the facility. Anderson said she loves everything about the senior center, its staff, and the seniors who visit it.

“I started out volunteering as a way to help people out, and it was just something I always really wanted to do,” she said. “I love it here and I don’t want to think about what my life would be without it. I don’t know what I would do, because I love it here and all of these people are like my family.”

Over the years, Anderson said, she has met many people who have depended on her for help and become close to them. She said she has built a special bond with many people because of her service at the senior center and anticipates she will meet many more people in the coming years. Anderson said, because many of the people who visit the center are in their golden years, it is difficult for her emotionally when they pass away. Still, she said she doesn’t let that bring her down too much because she has a job to do helping the other seniors.

“Of course it hurts, but I just do my best to handle it,” Anderson said. “It is hard on me because they are people I have known sometimes for years and have become close with.”

Anderson said that although she loses people she cares about, she is also able to meet new people often and build relationships with them. She said it doesn’t take long for people to get close to her and her with them.

“I just love people and I’m friendly, so I think most of them like me,” she said. “They know I’m here to help, and I think they appreciate the help.”

Anderson said volunteering is very rewarding, but she doesn’t do it for attention or the spotlight. She said she gives of herself because it is the right thing to do. Anderson said people who are considering volunteering, but may be a little wary of it, should give it a shot.

“Don’t be scared and give it a try,” Anderson said. “Just take a deep breath and don’t worry because the staff is always here to help you out if you need it. It is fun and it is important. It also gives me something to do that makes a difference in someone else’s life that might need a little help.”