Cora Garcia

Age: 49.

Family: Husband, Joe; daughter, Crystal; son, Darian.

City of residence: Yuba City.

Occupation: Hairdresser/owner of Cora's Beauty Salon in Yuba City.

How long have you lived in the Mid-Valley area? About 35 years.

Hobbies, interests: Soccer, dancing, camping, hosting community events, staying active and spending time with my family.

For what groups do you volunteer? Guadalupana Association at St. Isidore Catholic Church, as current president and a member for about 13 years.

I started with the group when my children were attending St. Isidore School and continued afterward because I love to help the church.

For the past two years I have been in charge of the association's annual celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The association is also giving a scholarship, one of my longtime goals.

I am a board member of the Alliance for Hispanic Advancement and chairperson for its annual "Primavera" dance.

I joined the group because they are so involved with children and education. Our activities include Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets.

North Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — I became a member because of my business.

I started volunteering because of my children when they were growing up. I feel it's important to be involved in your children's education — we live in a very diverse community and it's important to help out our youth and encourage educational success.

Education starts in the home and volunteering helps develop new skills that are beneficial to successful parenting for our youth.

How did you start volunteering? As a kid in Gridley, I started the first soccer team for girls. I got a landowner to give us a soccer field. I did things to get people to do things.

How do you fit volunteering into your schedule? The perk of owning my own business is that I get to create and manage my own hours. And of course I wouldn't be able to do it without the support of my family.

Words of advice: Take one day at a time. Do not wait until tomorrow. Positive thinking and time management are a must as well. And never forget who you are helping and what attracted you to volunteering.

Quote: "It's a wonderful experience to be able to help other people, or churches, or the community. ... I love the community."

Volunteer of the Week runs Tuesdays. To submit the name of a volunteer to be featured, contact Community Editor Leticia Gutierrez at 749-6552.