AFTER 26 years of volunteering at Silver Chain Social Centre in Fremantle, Lucia Scata says she wants to do it for another 25.
The Spearwood resident started volunteering when her friend convinced her to go along.
“My friend said if you like it then come, if you don’t then stay at home. Since then I have been going,” she said.
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READ NOW“I enjoy what I do, I enjoy cooking and the company of all the people who are there and the other volunteers.
“I enjoy getting out of the house and meeting people, having a chat with the residents.”
Mrs Scata cooks a range of food for guests including lasagna, cannelloni and soup.
She said there used to be a big group of volunteers but that had shrunk.
“If you ask most people if they want to volunteer they say no and would rather stay at home,” she said.
“If you can volunteer it is good to do and make an effort to help.
“I used to bring down my grandkids with me while their parents were at work to help me.”
For Mrs Scata it is more than just volunteering and she said it was a chance to help people.
“My mum was in Italy and I didn’t have a chance to do it for her,” she said.
“I visited her and I helped as much I could but my family was here in Australia.”
Mrs Scata said she hopes she can continue volunteering for a long time.
“When people say they like my cooking, it makes me feel really proud,” she said.
“I really enjoy this and I have such a good time.”
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