Adeline Cohen

For Adeline Cohen, volunteering is not about getting recognized but

about providing sustenance for her soul.

Cohen has been volunteering at Girls Inc. in Costa Mesa for the

past year. She says she cherishes the opportunity to help young girls

with the tangible topic of homework and the more intangible issues of

self-esteem and identity.

During her time at Girls Inc., the enthusiastic 83-year-old has

worked with Estancia High School students in an after-school tutoring

program and with junior high girls in a summer program.

“It’s a pivotal age, they’re just beginning to define themselves,”

Cohen said in reference to the junior high girls. “The thing I had to

give them is awareness that adults are not in a world all by

themselves. They are connected by their experiences.”

The Laguna Woods resident got involved with Girls Inc. through her

association with Working Wardrobes, which assists survivors of

domestic violence and other adults in crisis to help them get a job.

She worked on an event that supplied prom dresses to students at

Estancia. One day, after the event, she went to Estancia to see the

girls in their dresses and “never left”, she joked.

Over the summer, Cohen worked with the Eureka program, which

focuses intensively on science, math, technology, sports instruction

and career preparation. Her interest in working with students evolved

from her career as a high school guidance counselor.

“I loved helping kids find their direction in life,” Cohen said.

When she volunteered to work with Eureka, she offered her

counseling skills as well. To have the greatest impact on the girls,

Cohen shows interest in their music and asked them to bring the words

to their favorite songs. Through music, the girls would open up about

boys, make-up and things they did that they might not tell their

parents about, Cohen said.

“The greatest compliment a kid can give you is not to accept you,

but to let you in,” Cohen said. “For all their bravado, kids need to

feel safe.”

Orleda Roa, volunteer coordinator for Girls Inc, praised Cohen’s

ability to foster the girls’ independent thinking skills.

“[She’s] always talking to the girls about really thinking about

what they want to do with their futures, what qualities they possess

as individuals and how that will help them achieve their goals in

life,” Roa said.

Cohen said she gets as much out of the volunteering experience as

she gives.

“I can go home at the end of the day and feel like, ‘I know why

I’m here,’” Cohen said. “That’s important information. I know it’s

corny, but that’s what people need to hear.”

-- Story by Deirdre Newman,

photo by Sean Hiller