SHOK recognizes its long-serving members

Seniors Helping Our Kids has honored its volunteers who have reached the 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-year mark in helping students at Poway Unified School District campuses.

Many of the 23 honored volunteers on May 7 concentrate their efforts at the elementary level by helping beginning readers with their skills as OASIS reading tutors. Others are classroom helpers or visit various elementary campuses to provide a series of free ballroom dancing lessons to fifth graders. The lessons teach the basic steps and etiquette of ballroom dancing.

The 13 honored for five years of volunteerism through SHOK/OASIS were Jill Carovich, Connie Davis, Anne Edstrom, Judy Horning, Janice Kawamura, Pat Kikendall, Rosalie Levinson, Margaret Reeves, Joanie Richards, Doris Storey, Roslyn Weisberg, Estelle Wolf and Shoumei Woltz.

Eight honorees were recognized for contributing a decade of service. They were Mary Agne, Karen Brainard, Maureen Burbidge, Rebecca Crowley, Bob Friedgen, Bill Jaynes, Lucille Rabinowitz and Diane St. John.

In addition, Gwen Maunder was recognized for 15 years of volunteerism and Jane Levin for 20 years.

For the past 23 years, the SHOK/OASIS program has provided free training and supplies to volunteers, who per school district policy must pass a background check and tuberculosis test. Volunteers select their assigned school and weekly volunteer time. To cover some of the program’s costs, the group holds an annual fundraiser each year at Outback Steakhouse in Poway.

SHOK will soon be training new volunteers for the 2015-16 school year. To become a volunteer or learn more about the organization, contact Jane Radatz at jradatz@att.net or 858-485-5449.