January Volunteers of the Month
Rick Peterson and Dean Howell, SmithBarney

When your boss tells you that the whole company is getting involved in a volunteer project, it's a good idea to go along. But it takes a personal connection to continue to volunteer every month for the next 15 years. That's what happened when Rick Peterson and Dean Howell first volunteered to help assemble holiday gift baskets at Loaves & Fishes Centers more than a decade ago.

"SmithBarney brought over a whole bunch of employees to assemble gift baskets one Saturday in December," Rick recalled. "We learned about the Meals-On-Wheels program and decided we could probably volunteer on the weekends. So I took a Sunday route and Dean took a Saturday route and we've been at it ever since."

Rick brought along his six-year-old daughter, Kate, and Dean brought his young daughter, Sarah, when they began delivering meals. And when Rick
and Dean coached a community basketball team for the girls, the team
members got a chance to deliver some meals as well. Now in their 20s,

Dean Howell

Rick Peterson

Kate and Sarah have fond memories of delivering meals with their fathers.

"I'm a real believer in giving back to the community," Dean said. "I always get more from the people who get the meals than they ever get from me. It seems they always have insight into something. My route is in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, not far from where I grew up. It's kind of like going back home for me and helping out people in my own community."

"Having direct contact with the people who really need the food is really rewarding," Rick said. "I think I'll continue to deliver meals until I'm on the other side of the door."

"Meals-On-Wheels is a great cause and it takes me only about 90 minutes a couple of Saturdays a month," Dean said. "I

                                              wish more people would volunteer."

For more information about SmithBarney, go to www.smithbarney.com.

If you would like to know more about volunteering to deliver Meals-On-Wheels in your neighborhood, or how to develop a corporate volunteer team, call Angel Pilato at 503.736.6325 ext. 86239.