Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 17, 1995                   TAG: 9507180049
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A PAT ON THE BACK TO:

Age: 12

School: Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Roanoke

Year: Eighth

What she does: At age 10, Brandy began volunteering at the Raleigh Court Health Care Center near her home, one afternoon a week during the school year and more often during the summer. The center is long-term nursing care facility, not restricted to the elderly.

Brandy visits with the residents, ``especially the ones who don't have family who can visit,'' plays Bingo with them, delivers the mail and helps to read it, if asked, takes them to activities and sings with them during devotions.

``I decided to work here because I wanted to see how people live in different places and I like to be around old people, helping them out.

``They tell me stories about their childhood and their grandchildren and tell me stuff I wouldn't normally find out in my neighborhood, because there aren't a lot of old people there.''

``I really like helping out at Bingo because I like it when they raise their hands and holler, `Bingo! Bingo!'.''

Now that Brandy is a little older, she has been given more responsibility. She is allowed to help take the residents on outings.

``Brandy is very helpful and friendly, very comfortable around the residents,'' said Suzanne Verdu, activities director at the center for the past few months. ``She's always polite and courteous. With 120 residents, I can't tell you how much help she is getting people to activities and helping them join in.''

``We usually don't take volunteers until they're at least 12,'' said Susannah Francis, former Activities Director at the center, ``but Brandy seemed mature for her age and really seemed to want to do it. I wanted to give her a chance. I think she took it [volunteering] as a challenge to show me she was mature enough to handle it.

``Brandy was always very reliable and always did a good job. You could always count on her. I let her be in charge of Friday bringo - she got everything ready, set it up, brought the residents and called the games. She's very energetic and has a good rapport with the residents. She's a fun kid to be around.''

In the anonymous letter sent in to nominate her, Brandy was described as a pre-teen who ``really has made a difference.''

What she likes best: ``It's really fun and I always have new experiences. If someone doesn't have grandparents around, these people will be grandparents to you.''

Other activities: Brandy has played on her school's soccer team, takes karate classes ``almost every day'' at Taekwondo America, where she has earned her brown belt, and is on a swim team. She also enjoys roller skating and bike riding.

What she's learned: ``You have to control your temper with older people - you never know what they're going to say to you,'' Brandy said. ``You can learn a lot from them. Some day I'm going to be old and I hope there's someone like me to help me out.''

``Brandy came home one day . . . and asked if I would ever put her in a nursing home and forget about her,'' her mother, Wanda, said. ``I think volunteering helps kids realize how fortunate they are.

``This has opened Brandy's eyes that there are people out there who don't have loving families and it makes her see there are all kinds of people.''

Obstacles: ``It was hard for me to start talking to the residents because I'm really very quiet. Since I've been there I've had to learn to talk and talk louder because some of them can't hear very well. Being there has helped me be less shy.''

Future plans: ``I want to be a respiratory therapist like my mom. I just like helping people and someday I might be able to help someone stay alive.''

Extra Credit nominees must be 12-18 and volunteering of their own choice. If part of a group, the teen must have initiated the activity.

Send in the teen's name, age, phone number, what they're doing, for how long, and how it has helped someone else. Include your name and phone number. Mail nominations to Extra Credit, c/o Features Department, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010

This twice-monthly column spotlights a teen-ager who is using his or her own initiative to make a difference in our neighborhoods, schools and communities. We think they deserve a public thank-you for helping other people. Nominations are sent in by our readers (see guidelines below).