Volunteer of the year recognized by RSVP
Published: May 6, 2005
A 16-year Wyndmoor resident won recognition Tuesday for his work with the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program of Montgomery County.
Alfred Toizer, 69, was named volunteer of the year for Eastern Montgomery County at RSVP’s annual luncheon, held at the Sorella Rose restaurant in Flourtown.
Accepting his certificate, Toizer joked that, because volunteering was its own reward, organizing luncheons and handing out awards was a waste of time and money.
“What you get out of it is, you volunteer - that’s all you really need,” he told the gathering.
He also said that other volunteers deserved the award more than he, particularly those who offer comfort to the sick.
“All I ever do is yak, yak, yak,” he said.
Toizer does his yakking, as he described it, with the Apprise program, which aids the elderly in solving their problems with medical insurance.
“When people first come to Al, they are usually overwhelmed and in crisis,” said Lilibet Coe, RSVP’s executive director. “The first thing Al does is give them his magical smile. Before long the client is calm and reassured that someone is listening and will be able to help them get through a very confusing system.”
Toizer formerly worked for the state budget office of New Jersey and has been retired for nine years. He joined RSVP in 2000 when he received a birthday card from state Rep. Larry Curry, D-154. A flyer for the program was tucked inside the card, Toizer said, and it seemed like a useful way to spend his free time.
He devotes about a day and half to the program per week, he said, working primarily at Abington Hospital and the Ambler Senior Center. He also helps homebound seniors prepare their taxes early in the year.
When he is not doing volunteer work, he enjoys spending time with his 1-year-old grandson, whose photograph he proudly showed off during the luncheon.
RSVP, which operates throughout the country, places volunteers aged 55 and over with organizations in need of assistance. Volunteers in eastern Montgomery County work with more than 100 agencies including schools, hospitals, hospices and libraries.
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