Volunteer of the Year: Don Wada fulfills a promise

By Kristine Thomas

Mount Angel resident Don Wada has a good excuse to stay in his apartment and just watch television or relax.

In 2005, he had a second back surgery that never healed properly leaving him in constant pain.

“I got a staph infection that forced me into a nursing home. At first, I couldn’t walk, then I was in a wheelchair and then I learned to walk with a cane,” he said. “I can walk now, but I am in pain.”

Shyly, he confesses he felt sorry for himself when he was in the nursing home, wondering “why me.” As he went through rehabilitation, he promised himself after he left the nursing home he was going to volunteer to help others.

Wada has more than fulfilled his pledge to dedicate his time to help people in his community.

And his efforts have not gone unnoticed. Several people nominated Wada to receive the Volunteer of the Year award from the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce.

“I was shocked I received the award,” he said. “There are so many people in Mount Angel that are deserving of this award and do so much in this community.”

Even a quick glance at the nomination forms reveals Wada’s character. Descriptions included friendly, helpful, kind, positive, considerate and cheerful – to name a few.

In 2008, Wada, 68, moved from San Jose, Calif., to Mount Angel to be closer to his family. His daughter, Megan, and her husband, Daniel Kaplan, and their children Sophia, 6; Nathaniel, 4 and Ruby, born in November, live in Silverton. His daughter Meredith and her husband, Matt Eggert, and son Owen, 5, live in Wilsonville. His ex-wife also lives in Silverton.

Wada starts his day around 4 a.m. by greeting the newspaper deliveryman and then delivering the newspapers to the residents at Edelweiss Village.

Then, he’s off to the Mount Angel Senior Center, where he makes coffee each morning; sweeps, weeds and cleans the sidewalks; helps unload the food from Marion-Polk Food Share on Wednesdays; calls Bingo on Wednesdays, and does anything that needs to be done. He enjoys talking with the other volunteers and learning about their lives.

“I don’t think there is anything more rewarding than helping someone else,” he said.

He also volunteers at the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center where he wheels residents to events or helps them play games such as Bingo. He also volunteers Mission Benedict, folding clothes and watching the volunteers’ children.

“This is a gentleman who is willing helps where needed,” wrote a fan in a nomination letter. “Gives people rides at Edelweiss wherever they need to go. Has cooked meals for some and brings them to them. Gets residents mails if unable or gone. His good deeds are too numerous to mention.”

Providence Benedictine Nursing Center Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Thomas said Wada has served as a volunteer since March 2009.

“His cheerful personality has touched many of our elderly and he is admired by our staff and visitors,” she wrote. “Don is involved in so many wonderful volunteer positions in Mount Angel, such as helping out at the Mount Angel Senior Center and St. Joseph Shelter as well as keeping city sidewalks free of debris. We feel very fortunate that he chooses to spend time at our center helping with Bingo and other leisure activities each week.”

Sister Angela Meister, coordinator of Mission Benedict, said Wada sorts clothes and baby-sits the volunteers’ young children.

“Don is a friend to all of us volunteers. The children love him as he is so patient and caring while watching over then,” Meister said.  “Thanks to Don and his happy, fun loving manner and positive attitude, I look forward to helping out.”

In 1943, Wada was born to Teiko and Robert Wada in a Japanese internment camp in Arizona. “My parents had lived in the Bay Area when they were ordered to leave,” he said. “They lost everything they had, but they never complained about their life.” He learned from his parents how to persevere through the valleys in his own life.

His mother, Teiko, 91, lives in Nevada by his sisters, Elaine, 70, and Ellen, 72.

Wada can often be found sitting on the bench outside the senior center. He enjoys talking to everyone, learning their stories.

“Everyone I have met, I have high regard for,” he said. “I would do anything for these people because they are such caring people and they think about others before they think about themselves.”

At the senior center, he chatted with Charlotte Grosjacques, Verna Scharback and Ginger Allen.

“I think he’s probably the most wonderful volunteer around,” Grosjacques said. “He helps so many people. He’s always ready to do whatever we ask him.”

Scharback, 93, concurs that Wada is a great guy. “He’s so helpful and everyone loves him. He’s good to everyone.”

Ginger Allen volunteers with Wada at both the senior center and the food bank. “He gets more out of volunteering than he gives,” she said. “He’s part of our volunteer community within the community. He lifts everyone’s spirit when he’s around them.”

There are a 1,000 people who deserve this award, Wada said, adding he volunteers because he likes giving back to his community.

“It feels good to do things for other people,” he said. “It also feels good when someone ask you to help out with something. It’s the people you work with that makes the work worthwhile.”