Since she was in first grade, Nadine Mora always promised her grandmother to stay close and help out as much as she could. With the passing of both of her grandmothers in recent years, Nadine “discovered that she really wanted to do more for senior citizens in her community.” Today, Nadine — a San Gabriel Mission High School sophomore — can be seen at Vista Cove, a long-term care facility for seniors in San Gabriel, and the senior center at Ruben Salazar Park in East Los Angeles. Her service, she says, is “a way to honor a commitment to my grandmother.” “I started seeing other elderly like they were my neighbors, and I wanted to help them,” explains Nadine. “It wasn’t like a replacement for my grandmothers, but it was my kindness I could show to someone else.” It feels good to help others, she says, and she enjoys making seniors feel needed.Besides helping seniors, and being an active Girl Scout in Troop 9795, Nadine volunteers at her parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe in East L.A. She assists teachers at Our Lady of Guadalupe School, helps in fundraising activities, and participates in the parish prayer group.Recently, Nadine has received more attention for her volunteerism. She was chosen as an ABC7 “Cool Kid,” a regular “Eyewitness News” segment that honors youth who serve their communities.“Nadine spends time with many seniors and has a genuine interest interacting with them,” noted reporter Danny Romero in his profile that aired earlier this year. “Cool Kid Nadine Mora is connecting generations and doing it with genuine affection.” She also was asked to appear on Fox Channel 11’s Saturday morning show, “Live Life & Win.” The program, which deals with how teens inspire communities, visited Nadine at home and at Vista Cove to learn about her activities. “I was excited about being interviewed,” she says. “I hope that by sharing my information, other teens will be motivated to volunteer and make a difference in their communities.”{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2012/1019/sgstudent/{/gallery}
