When the Federal Way Senior Center has needed a helping hand, Dorothy Wells has always been there to lend hers the past seven years.

“It’s a very homely place,” said Wells, who the Mirror nominated as this month’s Citizen of the Month. “Everybody here was just understanding and nice. I just asked what I could do and I went from there.”

Wells began volunteering at the senior center shortly after her husband passed away.

“After I lost my husband, I was just looking for a way to feel included,” Wells said. “It gives me a routine for a day, which I enjoy.”

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, she can be found leading the senior exercise program. The program is designed for seniors to help with stretching and flexibility.

She started working with the exercise program through Group Health. She was involved with the program through them until they decided they no longer wanted to sponsor it.

Luckily, the senior center was looking for a program like that right around the same time.

On Fridays, she can be found helping out at the Bread Room, a shop where seniors can pick up breads and pastries.

Last Thursday, she helped decorate the building for Thanksgiving.

While she is not at the senior center on Wednesday, it does not stop her from volunteering. She still volunteers with Group Health, working in the gift shop, the snack bar and helping out with the consignments.

When she has time to spare, she’ll often stay helping out well beyond the hours they ask of her.

“It’s given me a good outlook on life to be able to help people,” Wells said. “It also enables me to be in a social position with other people.”

Wells moved to Federal Way after spending 37 years in St. Louis, Missouri. She lived in the Seattle area for 10 years prior to the move to Missouri.

She is currently a resident at Belmor, where she participates in their bingo, pinochle and bunco clubs.

“I was so glad to get back here,” she said. “I love the people here. I love the wide-openness and the beautiful scenery. It’s just a very comfortable place to live.”

She has two sons and six grandchildren. When she is not volunteering, her time is mostly spent with her two grandchildren who live in the area. Her other grandchildren reside back in St. Louis.

Wells has no intention of slowing down in her volunteer work in the near future.

She is interested in helping the senior center to receive more funding.

“Right now, I’m very concerned about our senior center,” she said. “It’s not getting funding. We’re not able to improve our facility like we need to. I want to do whatever I can to help.”

As the center begins to look into ways to increase funding, you can be sure that Wells will be there lending a helping hand to anyone in need.

Nominate someone for Citizen of the Month

To nominate someone for the Mirror’s Citizen of the Month, email editor@federalwaymirror.com. Include why you are nominating this person.