By Janet Wetzel
Enquirer contributor

As a retiree, William Hawkins began volunteering at various locations in the city. He's been noticing that he arrives at his volunteer jobs smiling, leaves smiling, and he enjoys every minute of his interaction with those he's helping. Sometimes he wonders who's helping whom?

William Hawkins (left) visits with Abe Chambers at the Deupree Community. (Ernest Coleman photo)

"It brings a joy, a passion, a happiness inside," said Hawkins, 70, of Madisonville. "When you lay down at night and you have a smile on your face because you know you did something good, that's great."

Residents at Deupree Community in Oakley, where Hawkins has volunteered a year, look forward to seeing his happy face two or three days a week. He's in the Friendly Visitor program, and also takes residents to church and to lunch.

Suzanne Newton, volunteer services coordinator for Episcopal Retirement Homes Inc., Deupree's owner, called Hawkins "one of the good guys."

"The residents look forward to his visits," Newton said. "When they know William's coming, they're so happy, laughing and cutting up. He makes them smile."

He's a volunteer with Gardeners Helping Gardeners through the Civic Garden Center, raises vegetables that he shares, and helps with community projects, such as neighborhood clean-ups.

Hawkins, who drove a sanitation truck for the city of Cincinnati for 30 years before retiring in 1985, was a Friendly Visitor at University Hospital in the late 1990s, and delivered books and magazines to patients. He was a tutor for nearly three years in Cincinnati schools.

Hawkins said that, when he found Deupree through the recommendation of daughter, Jaqueline, who works there, it was a perfect fit. "They're so friendly, and it means so much to some just to know you care," Hawkins said. "This gives me peace. You really see the meaning of giving."

---

Do you know a Hometown Hero - someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net, or fax to 513-755-4150.