Phyllis and Bob Spiller

• Name: Phyllis and Bob Spiller

• Age: Both are 79

• Family: Nine children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren

• City of residence: Colusa

• Occupation: He is retired from the U.S. Air Force and they managed mini-storage businesses in the Sacramento and Folsom area.

• How long have you lived in the Mid-Valley area? Three years in Colusa and previously lived in Linda

• Hobbies, interests: He likes to fish; both like camping; and both are former square dancers

• For what groups do you volunteer? Both volunteer at the Colusa Senior Center — they went in for lunch two years ago, saw a sign asking for volunteers and have helped at the site since then as well as attending activities at the center.

In addition they pick up donations several times a week from a local grocery store to take to the senior center.

Phyllis is a member of the Colusa Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, visiting patients, delivering water and flowers and working at the gift shop. With the auxiliary she also makes Telecare calls from her home to seniors and homebound residents in the community.

Bob also helps with the calls — he recently took over a call when Phyllis wasn't feeling well. The woman patient told Bob she appreciated hearing a man's voice.

Phyllis also makes knitted caps for newborns at the hospital, has made caps for adults at convalescent hospitals to go with the lap robes made by women at her church and, while living in Linda, made knitted caps for patients at the Cancer Center in Marysville.

"When I'm home my knitting needles are going," Phyllis said.

Other things the couple does include providing a woman a ride to church every week and helping take care of a pet whose owner is ill.

Both formerly helped distribute food commodities in Colusa and were campground hosts. Bob started working at a campground as a paid assistant manager, then as a paid manager before becoming a host. The couple hosted at a campground for five years.

"I liked it," Bob sad. "You were meeting people when they were out. It was rewarding seeing families spending time together."

Bob is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, helping with the Cuddles program, providing stuffed animals to children, delivering poinsettias to the hospital at Christmas and helping with the Christmas dinner open to the community.

In the past Phyllis helped the Scouts and Brownies and Bob volunteered with the 4-H, teaching basic electricity and wildlife management.

• How do you fit it into your schedule? Bob said there isn't any problem in finding time to volunteer, and he's learned how to cook. Phyllis said she carries a calendar with her. In between their volunteering they fit in their doctors' appointments.

• Words of advice: Phyllis — Instead of sitting at home, volunteer somewhere. Just because our fit — the senior center, the hospital — is right for us, others can find other things to do.

Bob — Go wherever there is a need.

• Quote: Phyllis — "(Volunteering) is what keeps our life full."

Bob — If he wasn't volunteering, "I would die of boredom."

Volunteer of the Week runs Tuesdays on the Local page. To submit the name of a volunteer to be featured, contact Leticia Gutierrez, Community Editor, at lgutierrez@ appeal-democrat.com or call 741-2400.