90-year-old Oceanside woman wins Senior Volunteer of the Year Award – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Shirley Thralls turned 90 this year and one might expect that she would be asking for a bit of help. But instead, she spends much of her time out volunteering and helping other folks in the community.

Ever since the El Corazon Senior Center in Oceanside opened 12 years ago, she has been volunteering there greeting guests, giving tours and encouraging seniors to come out and join some of the center’s activities. Thralls is known for sharing her helpful knowledge of Oceanside community services with everyone who stops by the senior center.

“I’d rather be out doing good than sitting at home bored,” Thralls said. “It is so nice to be needed.”

Thralls was picked as Oceanside’s Senior Volunteer of the Year. She was recognized for her significant efforts to help Oceanside seniors, which included volunteering 750 hours per year at the El Corazon Senior Center alone.

As soon as she got fully vaccinated earlier this year, Thralls went back to volunteering at the senior center.

“She got in touch with me and requested to be put to work,” said Homer Post, recreation supervisor for the city of Oceanside.

During the pandemic, Thralls helped contact 545 pre-enrolled seniors in the AARP Income Tax Preparation program to notify them the program was canceled for 2020. Then she contacted them later to let them know that the program would start this December.

“Once Shirley completed that task, she began to make telephone welfare checks to 1,500 seniors, who were experiencing isolation and loneliness,” Post said.

“There was a special need and I couldn’t walk away from that,” Thralls said.

Thralls volunteered with the San Diego Senior Community Foundation’s No Senior Alone program to help seniors who are socially isolated because of the pandemic. She helped with Granny’s World technology education program, training Oceanside seniors how to use the Internet with a laptop and how to establish email accounts, text and make doctor appointments online along with shopping, doing FaceTime video chats and Google Meet.

“It feels good to do something — even if it is just to say a kind word to people you are with,” said Thralls.

Before moving to Oceanside from Scottsdale, Ariz., about 14 years ago, Thralls was an elementary school teacher there for 34 years. She started volunteering in 2008 at Tri-City Medical Center, where she greeted visitors and worked in the gift shop.

Thralls is known for being upbeat even through tough times.

“When she took a fall and injured herself, she would continue to engage and encourage students of Granny’s World to remain a team, because, as she would say, “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work,” Post said.

Along with volunteering and enjoying her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Thralls played the piano and organ at her church. She plays the piano with the Oceana choral group as they perform singalongs at area retirement communities.

“My faith helps me focus on the good. I appreciate the good wherever I find it throughout the world and all people,” Thralls said.

Thralls is grateful to be able to do volunteer work and finds it “energizing.” She recalled when her 8-year-old grandson once remarked, “We sure have a durable Grammie,” referring to her health and activities.

“I appreciate the volunteer efforts of all durable Grammies and Grandads out there,” Thralls said.

The Oceanside Senior of the Year Award was announced at the annual Oceanside Senior Expo in October.

For volunteer opportunities in Oceanside, visit ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/hr/volunteer.asp.