T.O. celebrates ‘Senior of Year’

Thousand Oaks has a new Senior of the Year.

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS–– Alyce Schuldt (with flowers, right) is all smiles as she receives the Senior of the Year award Esther Robinson, front left, John Bravos, back left, Jackie Pizitz, back right, and William Blakely (not pictured) also were nominated for the annual award BILL SPARKES/Acorn NewspapersAlyce Schuldt was chosen recently during an awards ceremony at the Goebel Senior Adult Center on Janss Road.

Schuldt was one of five candidates nominated for their outstanding volunteerism The others were John Bravos, Jackie Pizitz, Esther Robinson and William Blakely.

Each nominee was called onstage and honored with certificates and accolades from civic and political leaders.

Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña thanked the candidates for their service and for serving as an inspiration to others. In recognizing Schuldt, Bill-de la Peña commended her for her contributions to improving the lives of seniors.

“She represents the highest level of senior volunteerism . . .

based solely on the needs of fellow seniors,” Bill-de la Peña said.

“The contributions this person has made to senior adults are what this award is all about.” For her part, Schuldt said she was stunned to learn she’d been nominated and even more surprised when she won.

“All of the people nominated have done so many wonderful things,” said Schuldt, a 30-year resident of Thousand Oaks, who was nominated by the pastor of her church, the Rev.

Janet Hansted Meadors.

Schuldt has been a volunteer for many years, establishing a preschool at her church, Holy Trinity Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, and then at the Camarillo Healthcare District. After her parents moved to the area, Schuldt stopped her volunteer work to care for them, particularly her father. It was through that experience that Schuldt became aware of the plight facing many seniors.

“I realized that seniors can’t do a lot anymore. They can’t drive anymore—maybe they don’t have family around to help them,” she said.

Schuldt began a new senior program through her church to provide two-hour activity programs to small senior homes that might not have the resources larger ones do. She also instituted a program called Caring Friends, a senior advocacy group that arranges for volunteers to provide transportation and assistance to doctors’ offices, grocery stores and church services. Through the program, Schuldt and other volunteers visit and call homebound seniors.

She’s in the process of organizing a monthly lunch program for homebound seniors.

Schuldt organizes 80th birthday celebrations for seniors at her church.

And in between all of those activities, Schuldt serves as a docent at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

“It’s really important that each senior have an advocate so that they don’t get taken advantage of,” Schuldt said. “Visit them in their homes, find out what’s happening with their health and what they need.

“I have a real soft spot in my heart for seniors. They’ve given us so much over the years and now they need us,” Schuldt said.