"Life is too short. I thought I had skills that could help others, so I looked for roles where I could make a difference," says Claudia Eckels, whose unwavering volunteer efforts continue to empower AARP Virginia and the broader community
When it comes to her volunteer contributions, Jackie Storrs does not walk: she has been running at full speed for 10 years, and she says her volunteer experiences keep her physically, mentally and socially active — and provide many rewards in return.
Maudie Scott’s view of what constitutes a community—its scars, attributes and potential—started taking shape when, at age 10, she joined her sharecropper parents in harvesting South Carolina tobacco. The field owner’s children, who were white, also gathered leaves during the fall harvest.
“I don’t think some people realize how much AARP does. I’m constantly letting people know in my social circle or at my church, or wherever I am. My red shirt means a whole lot.”
The Gordon Morton Award for Community Service is named for Gordon Morton, who served as the first president of the Kempsville Chapter, and served a four-year term as AARP Director for Virginia before there was a state office or staff in the Commonwealth.