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Police
Station Grandma
LaVonne Woodlock is a wonderful example of finding creative ways to
give service to the community. For one thing, LaVonne has become the
official "Grandma" at her local police station. When a parent
is arrested or brought in for whatever reason, officers are not allowed
to leave children behind unattended. So they bring them along to the
station where the children have to wait until care is arranged or their
parent is released. That's where LaVonne steps in. "I babysit the
little ones brought to the station." she says. "It gets very
upsetting for them sometimes." One can imagine the comfort she
provides with loving hugs and reassuring words that grandmas give so
well.
She volunteers in other ways at the station, too, filing reports and
doing other odd desk jobs. LaVonne has also been a Neighborhood Watch
block captain since the early 1980s. In 1988, she was named Block Captain
of the Year.
LaVonne served as an occupational therapist in the Hospital Corps for
the Navy in 1944-46. She finds use for these skills volunteering for
a local artist guild where she helps handicapped artists. "I mix paint
for them and get brushes for them. They know exactly what kind of paint
they want. My occupational therapy work in the Navy helps me in working
with the handicapped artists. I love to paint, too, but strictly as
an amateur."
We salute LaVonne Woodlock of Lakewood, California. She is an everyday
hero who has discovered unique ways of sending caring ripples into the
lives of others.
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