Created 11 years ago by five founding volunteers, Abrigo volunteer Elisabete Dias soon joined the group and quickly became one of its leaders.

Arriving shortly after her peers, Elisabete travels around to each table to greet and check in with the other participants. Life and Hope membership now totals more than 140 and has become an invaluable resource for Portuguese-speaking seniors in the Davenport community. Elisabete plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations ensuring that everyone makes the most of their time at Abrigo that day.

Among her volunteer duties, Elisabete coordinates the activities of a kitchen that feeds 50 to 100 clients both breakfast and lunch each day and acts as the group’s meal planner for the week.

“It’s very much like a part-time job,” Elisabete says. “It’s an obligation I take seriously but I feel good about helping others and making a difference in our community. Over the years some of these folks have become my personal friends.”

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., preparations begin for that day’s lunch and the kitchen becomes a hive of activity as the other volunteers helping in the kitchen spring into action. Elisabete dons a yellow apron with a giant red and black rooster on it. She slings a kitchen towel over her left shoulder, ready for any culinary action.

After lunch, a game of bingo begins and the team of volunteers goes back to work cleaning up the kitchen for the next day. Elisabete goes around to each table asking if anyone wants a cappuccino or espresso. When her waitressing duties are finished, she heads outside to the sun filled deck for a well-deserved break.

Now in her 70’s Elisabete has donated thousands of hours of service to Abrigo over the years. That includes time she donates to another program called “Seniors Helping Seniors” that provides assistance with filling out government forms and documents.