Maria Adelaide Araújo

Maria volunteers with the Friendly Visiting and Security Check program at St. Christopher House. She was part of a team of volunteers and workers who initiated this program in 1996 and has been a volunteer since. Maria provides hands-on assistance and support by visiting and telephoning isolated seniors to encourage them to lead active and independent lives. Her experience has been instrumental in the development of program procedures and improvements. Using her volunteer work as experience she is also involved in advocacy to improve the quality of life for seniors including her work with Portuguese women 55 years and over and her visits to seniors living in nursing homes. Maria's approach to health and wellness is an inspiration to many people, making her a role model to many of our volunteers and program participants. She is charismatic, personable, has an abundant amount of energy and is very giving. The people with whom she volunteers thinks that Maria is a very special volunteer because she is relentless in her pursuit of helping seniors.