Seven months ago, David began his volunteer journey at St. Paul’s PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). PACE is a comprehensive medical, social, and home care program for low-income seniors with chronic medical conditions who are struggling to live at home independently. David serves at the organization’s downtown location, where his time is divided between providing administrative assistance and brightening the first-floor day center where participants wait for their appointments and rides back home. Like most people who have visited St. Paul’s PACE, David has been very impressed: “The staff is great and one can tell they really care about providing the best care for the participants.”
David’s path to service through the Ignatian Volunteer Corps was serendipitous. He first learned about IVC at his parish’s annual outreach ministry fair. “IVC offers a way to put your faith into action and provides a community whereby one’s faith is nurtured and can flourish,” David reflects on his discovery.
Adriana Guzman (pictured above with David), Administrative Assistant to the Center Director, applauds David’s dedication and humor, stating, “David has participated in staff recognition events, our 2023 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey, Day Center activities, and has done quite a bit of data entry for me. His commitment to volunteering is truly wonderful, and his great sense of humor brightens all of our days.”
LaShaunda Gaines, PACE’s Center Director, echoes this sentiment, adding, “David has been great to work with. He’s kind, knowledgeable, and extremely funny. I always look forward to seeing him in the center.”
While David’s involvement with IVC and St. Paul’s PACE is somewhat new, the concept of service to others is not. He served as a physician’s assistant in the U.S. Navy (CWO3, USN, Ret.) before a 23-year career as a physician’s assistant at Kaiser-Permanente in San Diego. He also currently volunteers as a hospital Eucharistic Minister. These experiences give him a wonderful combination of skills to understand the medical, emotional, and spiritual concerns of the seniors being served at St. Paul’s PACE. He remarks, “I am the first IVC Member to be placed here, and it has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience for me to be associated with such an organization.”
Thank you, David, for your commitment to serving others and for being an inspiration to us all!