Volunteer Spotlight - Sheila Groel

A Boulder County resident since 1963, Sheila Groel knows her way around town. Since becoming a volunteer driver last May, Sheila has gained a reputation as a reliable, friendly, kind-hearted and flexible driver. Clients regularly request her, and she has been a wonderful addition to our diverse group of dedicated volunteers.

Like many of our volunteers Sheila leads a very active and energetic life; her passions range from traveling the world and hiking, to playing the violin, and reading. She is the founder of a small web design company, which assists starter businesses in gaining a presence on the web. She spends a lot of her time converting analog slides, LP records, cassettes, and old photos into digital format. Between traveling to New Zealand and Australia for her 20^th wedding anniversary and running her own web design company, it’s a wonder that Sheila has been able to dedicate so much time to RSVP!

Sheila first heard about RSVP’s Volunteer Driver Program from an article in the “Longmont Life” newsletter and thought to herself, “I could do that!” Since then she’s made numerous personal connections and has been inspired by the people she meets. “I am always amazed at the vast assortment of different personalities and lifestyles of my riders,” she explains, “as well as the amazing ways in which they have adapted to their circumstances.” A few clients in particular have made a uniquely strong impression; on her very first ride Sheila met a client who she describes as having “an amazing ability to stay practically anywhere in the world for almost nothing. She had traveled all over Europe and had just returned from a six month stay.”

In addition, Sheila frequently helps one client who she says provides inspiration when she is having a bad day or wants to complain about her life. This client is a gold medal winner in the Special Olympics and Sheila describes her as “always cheerful, chatty, and friendly, and her social life is busier than my own!” These types of connections are what make volunteering for RSVP a uniquely personal and gratifying experience for Sheila.

Sheila provided some great insight when it comes to volunteering. She advised that “If you’re not ready to listen to or to solicit life stories from riders, you may miss out on a wonderful conversation.” Here at RSVP we have indeed found that advice to be a fundamental part of our program. Congratulations to Sheila and all of our amazing volunteers for working so hard to provide this essential service!