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Spotlight on Volunteers – Adela Martinez
Adela Martinez is the Ultimate Cottonwood Volunteer
Adela Martinez is a Cottonwood native. She is married and a mother of three children. She has been employed at Yavapai County Community Health Services for 10 years and is a Community Nutrition Worker II for the Women, Infants and Children Program. Previously Martinez worked as a Family Support Specialist for the Healthy Families Program at Verde Valley Medical Center when it was still Marcus J. Lawrence Hospital and before that she worked as a physical therapy aide and clerk. Additionally she worked for the Verde Valley Sanctuary as their Hispanic Outreach Worker educating the Hispanic community about Domestic Violence and provided valuable information in their native tongue. She has also provided care for developmentally disabled individuals as their personal living skills provider and utilized her bi-lingual skills to assist the Department of Developmental Disabilities as an interpreter and translator—verbal and written—providing services in Spanish for those in need. Martinez has proven to be dedicated volunteer, donating her time to organizations such as Parents Anonymous, Verde Valley Teen Maze, Yavapai County Community Services Body Walk, American Red Cross, MISS Foundation—Mothers In Sympathy and Support—and the Cottonwood Police Department, just to name a few. Carla Hover of Yavapai County Community Health Services speaks highly of her coworker and friend. “You have picked an absolutely wonderful person to spotlight. Adela is one of the first people that I met when I moved to town over 13 years ago. She is one of the most caring and giving people that I have ever known, and her level of energy amazes me.” How long have you lived in Cottonwood? Where did you grow up? I am a Cottonwood native. I was born at M.J.L. Hospital when it was located on North Main Street in Old Town. I left Cottonwood for a few years and then came home. Is there anything about your family that you wish to share with the community? I have three wonderful children; David, Maricela, and Belicia that I am raising with my husband Dave. My family has been in the Verde Valley for many years. Education and/or career: Most of my education and career has leaned toward health care and community services. That is where I feel I can use my skills and experience to make a difference in the lives of others. Is there an event from your childhood or young adulthood that propelled your desire to volunteer to serve your community? When I was about five or six years old my parents were also foster parents. I had a foster sister about my age and a younger foster brother. I was the only child at home then and I loved the playmates. They would come stay for awhile, cry when they left and were happy to come back. I realized when I was older how much of a difference my parents made in their lives and I did my first volunteer position as a Special Olympics coach mentor when I was in the eighth grade. The smiles, hugs and knowing that you are giving someone that “helping hand” makes it all worth it. What are your views about volunteerism? Volunteer activities: Everyone should volunteer. It is definitely worthwhile and involvement in the community benefits everyone. How do you serve the community volunteering for the Cottonwood Police Department? By educating myself and understanding all that the police department does; not only “Protect and Serve” but also in giving of their personal time to organize events to help make our community a safer place. I serve the community for the department with pride by assisting them with events or whatever they may need. Also, by sharing with others that we have to work together with the police department to achieve a common goal; which is a safe, crime-free and drug-free community. Please share your philosophy about how the Cottonwood Recreation and Aquatics Center will benefit the community. The planned Recreation Center will give our youth something fun and productive to do and be a centralized and safe place to gather. It will also benefit the health of community members of all ages by providing physical activities and a social gathering space. What is your wish for Cottonwood in 10 years? In 10 years, I would hope that the growth of the town would be able to accommodate and include community members of all ages with things to keep them active and involved. How has Cottonwood changed since you were a child? Is it better, or do you wish you could go back? I remember Cottonwood having only two lanes through Main Street and no stop lights. We had two very small grocers that had the best creamcycles, (50/50 bars). We had to go to Clarkdale, Sedona or Camp Verde to do our grocery shopping. Then we started growing; we got our first supermarket and street light and it continued from there. What is the most interesting or exciting thing that's ever happened in Cottonwood? I will have to say that listening to the excitement in my sisters’ voices as they talk about the best sweet shop in town, Lillian’s Sweet Shop in Old Town, and the time that Elvis Presley stopped there during a visit to the area. Do you have a favorite quote? Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man himself should lend a hand. -Hippocrates What are your hobbies or enjoyment besides volunteerism? Karaoke, bowling, martial arts, and my family. My youngest daughter also does her own volunteering as well; I volunteer to help her too. If you could get every single community member to do just one thing, what would that be? Be a mentor; take a positive interest in our community. It is ours and it takes all of us working together to make it a good place to live. Please share anything else that is important to you. Thanks to all of those who also volunteer and make a difference in our community. And thanks to my husband and kids, without their support I couldn’t do all that I do. ___________________________________________________________________________ Spotlight on Volunteers is compiled by Mayor Diane Joens on behalf of the Cottonwood City Council. Council members recognize the invaluable contributions volunteers make to the betterment of city government and the community. There are many opportunities to volunteer and make a positive difference. To learn about opportunities, contact Cottonwood City Manager Doug Bartosh’s Executive Assistant Kyla Allen at 634-5526. Volunteer today!
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Special to the
Verde Independent