Mar 30, 2016 3 min read

BURGETTSTOWN – Nadene Dodds has never shied away from public service, whether it was coordinating mail as the postmaster in Langeloth for 13 years, or providing hot food as a Meals on Wheels coordinator for 25 years.

The latter achievement brought the 90-year-old into the spotlight Wednesday as the Burgettstown Senior Center honored her for 26 years in various volunteer roles at the community hub.

“It’s going to take me months to read all of these!” Dodds said as she received multiple proclamations from state legislators, Washington County commissioners, county Aging Services and the governor’s office.

“I’m just so proud of her. She doesn’t slow down. She takes good care of herself, as well as everyone in her family,” said Robin Shoup, one of Dodds’ two children.

“She just lost her sister three weeks ago – my aunt – and she just has kept us all going. She’s the youngest and now sole surviving sibling of her family, and my father, Bill – she’s a widow,” Shoup said.

Dodds stood up amid cheers from the audience and asked her fellow volunteers to be recognized. “Without these people, those in need wouldn’t be served. It takes more than just a coordinator,” Dodds said.

Dodds commanded the room as impromptu emcee with jokes and stories from her life, including a punchline about how a cat made it to heaven and ended up being just as thankful for the sometimes-ignored meals left in seniors’ homes.

And she often paused to thank those honoring her, deflecting most of the appreciation to coordinators Tammy Thompson and Kathy Constantino.

“That’s just like her, a woman with a heart of service to stop and ask for recognition of everyone involved,” Constantino said.

When she finally set aside her humility for a moment to explain why she continued to volunteer well into her golden years, she said the impact she was leaving was too good to ever give up.

“The people we help with Meals on Wheels, they’re getting a genuine service. And it’s most often to talk to them, to connect with them and spruce up their day with a little happiness. These people are often alone for long stretches of time, and we’ve found folks on the floor and called the ambulance. So we protect them, as well,” Dodds said.

And asked how she did it all, she answered with a challenge to other prospective volunteers.

“It’s not hard. It’s just being there. Once you get there, to a home, or show up here, you just keep moving. Getting even the smallest accomplishment done encourages you to keep going – and seeing others benefit from it, you just can’t stop! I don’t know how I do it. I just move,” Dodds said.