Ken Smith, Volunteer

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Meet Ken

For Ken Smith, a former Los Angeles City fire fighter, making the decision to volunteer at WISE & Healthy Aging came after his mother passed away. She had lived with him and his wife for the last few years of her life and had inspired Ken with the volunteer work she did with her church. 

“I knew I wanted to give back the way my mother did. Then one day I was out walking with a group of friends, and one of them just happened to be volunteering at WISE and told me how much she liked doing it. Right after that, I saw an ad in the local paper asking for volunteers at WISE, so it just seemed like everything was aligning for what I was meant to do," recalls Ken. 

It's been eight years since Ken responded to that ad and started volunteering at WISE, where he helps set up and serve the seniors who come for lunch, as part of the WISE Diner program, which serves over 350 people each week.

“I feel a kinship with the people I meet, and I look forward to coming here. I’m giving back and that’s something I take very seriously,” says Ken.  

Ken was recently honored by the County of Los Angeles for his outstanding volunteerism at the 58th Annual Older Americans Recognition Day Awards Ceremony.

Thank you, Ken for your amazing contributions to WISE & Healthy Aging!