PORT ORANGE, Fla. – Research says having friends and personal connections as you age could be keys to staying healthy.
This next story may help confirm that.
This week’s Getting Results Award winner has been volunteering with the City of Port Orange Police Department for decades.
Mary Wittmeyer says it keeps her young. In fact, she just crossed the major milestone, turning 100. But Wittmeyer has no intention of slowing down.
When asked if she ever thinks about scaling back, Wittmeyer said, “Lots of times, especially when I get out of bed. But I just gotta stay out among people. It’s a way of exercising. It’s a win-win situation for me.”
Wittmeyer was among the first group of Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) with the Port Orange Police Department. That was back in 1983.
“My husband and I moved down from the Buffalo area. We used to go to the pool every day in our park and we would hear everybody complaining. So we decided we needed to do something about it.” Wittmeyer remembered. “A couple of the guys decided we should help the police department so we put together a proposal.”
Wittmeyer said as soon as they started the volunteer program it caught on and grew in very little time.
Over the years, Wittmeyer has done everything from helping with special events to assisting in the records department. She even helped detectives locate stolen property.
“I would go to the pawn shops and get the tickets then bring them back and compare them to stolen property. Once in a while we’d find they had things in their possession.”
Wittmeyer still volunteers twice a week. Now, her role is mainly helping to assist with courier service delivering mail and packages to city and county offices.
Maj. Ken Nichols oversees the Volunteer and Police Service Program.
“She’s one of a kind,” Nichols said. “She has been an inspiration to us all. She’s sharp as a tack, and she had my back when I first started.”
Ernie Rossi has been volunteering with the VIPS program for five years. He had a similar experience.
“She was one of the first people to introduce herself and welcome me,” Rossi said. “She’s a warm hearted person who has the respect of everyone. Every new recruit gets to know who she is.”
The department threw her a surprise birthday party last month. Dozens of volunteers, police officers and politicians attended.
“I knew they were going to do something, but I didn’t know anything like this was going to happen,” Wittmeyer said.
Nichols said Wittmeyer has always had a great sense of humor. After her surprise party she didn’t let him down, telling him, “With all this fuss, I’m not going to tell you the next time I turn 100.”
Both Nichols and Rossi say it’s evident that Wittmeyer loves the Port Orange community and volunteering has always been her way to give back.
“I’ll keep going as long as I can,” Wittmeyer said.
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