90-Year-Old Volunteers Daily to Help Fellow Seniors

While many people her age are slowing down, Juliaette Reynolds is speeding up to help others.

The 90-year-old Chapel Hill resident arrives at the Seymour Center each morning ready to work. After a quick game of dominoes, she greets fellow seniors, handles meal donations, and distributes lunch tickets to the hundreds of visitors who pass through daily.

"That's one of my favorite pastimes, is helping people," Reynolds said. "It gives you a good feeling."

The Seymour Center serves about 100 free meals each day to seniors like Josephine Agusta, 94, who comes for both the food and the friendship. About 450 seniors visit the location daily, making it a bustling hub of activity and conversation.

"I'm a people person, and I love being with people," Agusta said. "It's very important to be with people when you get older. You stay by yourself, you vegetate."

Reynolds has volunteered at the center for at least 15 years. She says the work keeps her active and connected to her community in ways that sitting at home never could.

"I think if this place gives you something to do, so that you don't sit at home all day and look at the wall," she explained. "It's like home away from home."

Sunny's Take

Janice Tyler, director of the Orange County Department on Aging, calls Reynolds a "great, all-around person, jolly person" who embodies what the center is all about. The facility exists to combat social isolation, one of the biggest health risks facing older Americans today.

What makes Reynolds special isn't just her dedication. It's her understanding that a smile and a warm greeting can transform someone's entire day.

"At least they give you a smile, you know," Reynolds said about the seniors she helps. Her own smile, it turns out, might be the most powerful tool in her volunteer toolkit.

Orange County relies on about 350 volunteers across its senior programs, helping with everything from daily wellness calls to teaching classes. The county welcomes volunteers of all ages, recognizing that connection works both ways.

Reynolds proves that purpose doesn't come with an expiration date.