Volunteer, 92, retires after 19,000 hours

EAU CLAIRE (AP) - On most afternoons during the past three decades, Naomi Harris could be found volunteering in a classroom at North High School, helping a young boy with an art project, reading to a young girl or serving children a hot meal.

Harris, 92, began volunteering as a "foster grandparent" in 1982 and now, some 19,000 volunteer hours later, she is saying goodbye to the classroom.

"I think what is so unique about Naomi is that she has done this for 30 years. And here she started this at age 62 when most people are retiring," said Julie Burr-Dickerson, who has worked with Harris through much of her volunteer career.

Burr-Dickerson said Harris' demeanor and skills were an excellent fit for the Foster Grandparent Program.

"She's very, very gentle with kids," said Burr-Dickerson, who also will retire at the end of the school year. "That's why it has been so wonderful working with her all these years and she's so good at it."

The federal Foster Grandparent Program is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service and locally by CESA 10. Under the program, people 55 or older work 15 to 25 hours a week helping special needs students.

Harris said she's kept volunteering because she saw the positive effect it had on the classroom.

"The teachers appreciate our help in the classroom. Things run more smoothly. And the children just love us and the special attention we give them. It works out nicely," Harris said.

Harris' childhood experiences inspired her to help children.

Born in Philadelphia, Harris lived through the Great Depression. At 8, she lost her sister to diphtheria.

Seeing impoverished children struggle with access to health care and education moved her to begin a profession as a medical assistant in New York.

She moved to Eau Claire with her late husband, Maurice D. Harris, a pediatrician and public health administrator.

Harris has received many awards for her volunteer work, including:

• Daily Point of Light award from President George H. W. Bush in 2001.
• The President's Volunteer Service Award from George W. Bush in 2005.
• Children's Legacy Award in 2009.
• Eugene I. Lehrmann Award for Intergenerational Advocacy in 2005.

Harris said she'll miss the daily routine volunteering gave her life and she'll miss working with the children.