Volunteer of the Month - August 2019

We have an amazing community of volunteers who faithfully and generously give their time and energy to serve seniors throughout Boulder County. In an effort to recognize their work, and so that our entire community can get to know our volunteers, we started our Volunteer of the Month award program.

We are delighted to introduce you to Matt Reynolds, our August 2019 Volunteer of the Month.  Matt pulls double duty for Cultivate, providing seniors with groceries through our Carry-Out Caravan program and driving seniors to medical appointments through our VetsGo program.  According to Matt, each program offers the volunteer something different.  The Carry-Out Caravan program has lots of volunteers (three distinct crews in fact) and is very social, while the VetsGo offers the volunteer one-on-one time and a chance to have great conversations in an intimate setting. 

Inspired by Matt? You, too, can support seniors in our community as a volunteer. It’s a great opportunity to give back. Get started today!

Where did you grow up? 

Denver. I was born in New York City but my family moved when I was about one.

What was your childhood ambition?

I wanted to be a doctor. I really enjoy science.

What was your first job?

I delivered food! When I was 16 and 17, I delivered food for the Roosevelt Memorial Hospital.

What was your proudest moment?

I guess seeing both my daughters grow up to be strong and independent adults.

What is your greatest challenge?

Staying busy after retirement! (Wayne retired as an electronic engineer about five years ago.)

What are you most passionate about?

My family, my two grandchildren.

What are your hobbies?

Hiking, biking, and I still enjoy tinkering with electronics.

What would your perfect day look like?

Planning a good trip – taking time to research and then going some place in the world, traveling around.

What is one item on your bucket list?

Well, we just completed one: hiking the Grand Canyon. A lot of fun, one day down and the next day back up. But still on the list is Machu Picchu—but it’s getting pretty crowded.

What three words would you want to describe your legacy?

Wow, that’s a tough one. Well, I think I’d like to be remembered that I provided well for my family and that I was able to give my daughters a good foundation.

Who/What inspires you?

My parents. Both were engineers. My mother was a chemical engineer—pretty uncommon in those days. She graduated from CU.

What advice would you give to people of a generation other than your own?

For any generation, I’d say give back, or give of yourself.

Why do you volunteer?

Again, to give back, and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I really appreciate being able to meet really interesting people while volunteering.

Why Cultivate?

I wanted to stay in my community, helping people there.

Who is a senior who made a significant impact on your life, and what is one lesson you learned from them?

My parents, my mother. My father developed Alzheimer’s and it was hard on my mother. She grew up on a farm in Hudson. A Mom-ism I always remembered was if someone was going on and on, she would say he’s “telling how the hogs ate the cabbage”—something I’d imagine every farmer would already know!

Volunteering with us is easy, flexible and fun! Join our volunteer team today and, like the Yankees, make a deep impact in the lives of your senior neighbors.