She is trying to start a Kiwanis Club volunteer group to read to children at the La Crescenta library when it opens in September. In between, Pearson finds time for fun by playing cards with the Canasta Club in Montrose.
What do you find most rewarding about working for the Kiwanis Club?
There is some satisfaction in helping needy people and working with children.
What are some recent projects the Kiwanis Club has done?
At Christmastime, we all brought in Christmas gifts and took them to the local sheriff’s for needy children. We sold See’s gift certificates at Christmas and on Valentine’s Day. We have also given money at times to needy families.
What have you been involved in through the Telephone Pioneers?
Every Friday, I put in five hours at the store in the basement of the telephone building in Pasadena. All of our proceeds there go toward what we do for needy children.
What kinds of projects do the Telephone Pioneers fund?
When school starts, they fill backpacks with school supplies. At Christmastime, they give them coats. We’ve done all kinds of things.
Have you done other volunteer work?
After I retired, I volunteered at the [Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles Music Center] when they first started out with their sales kiosks in front of the doors. I liked volunteering down at the Music Center. You got to see a lot of people. That really introduced me to Los Angeles.
I got to see Michael Crawford in “The Phantom of the Opera” once. I also volunteered at Descanso Gardens. I worked in the membership section. I must have done it for about eight years.
Are you also part of the Canasta Club?
Right. We have between four to five tables [set up to play canasta] every second and third Tuesday of each month in the Citibank community room in Montrose.
Did you play canasta before you joined?
Oh yes, years before. Everybody played canasta 40 years ago. People will come and say, “I haven’t played canasta in 40 years.” We say, “All you have to do is play one hand, and it all comes back to you.”
