Cranberry volunteer tops in Pa.
CRANBERRY TWP — Good deeds were recognized at the Cranberry Township Senior Center when one of the volunteers was named as the top volunteer in the state by the Pennsylvania Association of Senior Centers.
When Niva Johnston of Cranberry Township was told she's the best volunteer in the state, she said she was shocked.
“At first I thought it was just for the county,” she said, “and I was surprised. Then I found out it was the whole state, and I thought 'Oh my gosh.'”
Johnston, a retired ICU and pediatric nurse, has been volunteering at the senior center for five years. She said she usually volunteers in the kitchen, which is where she first started working in the senior center, or helps Terrie Walker, the center manager, to organize some of the larger events.
Johnston also introduced the idea of “kids days” in which senior center members could bring their grandchildren with them to participate in activities and win prizes while spending time with their family members.
“It's really grown,” she said.
She said her nursing career and interest in working with children led to her initiation of the kids day idea.
“Kids are kind of my thing,” she said.
In addition to her work at the senior center, Johnston also said she crochets hats and headbands to be given to local hospice patients.
Johnston also said her favorite part of working at the senior center has been the people who go there.
“The names of all the people should also be on the plaque,” she said.
Although she was told she won the award in mid-September, Johnston didn't receive official recognition for it until she went to State College to receive a plaque. Johnston said Walker was the one who nominated her for the award.
