Amidst the approaching holiday season, Oxnard College students find time to donate to the third-age community as their way to say thanks.

The OC Sociology Club and community members volunteered their time to the residents of the Camarillo Healthcare Center on Nov. 18, in hopes of bringing joy and festive cheer to their Thanksgiving dinner shared along with their family members.

Liz Perez, Sociology Club secretary, felt it was a rewarding experience to see all the patients happy, since they often times don’t have very many visitors.

“I just wanted to volunteer my time to help out the community in some way because I am a sociology major and it’s very important do to this,” said Perez. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be here with these people.”

Camarillo Healthcare Center is a licensed, 114-bed skilled nursing facility equipped with two nurse stations, a rehabilitation center, a leisure courtyard, beauty salon, laundry service and full kitchen service that provides short-term and long-term care for their patients.

For the Thanksgiving dinner, 70-80 patients and family members were expected. The Sociology Club and two community members that volunteered for this event assisted the center’s staff with seating the patients, serving and discarding the beverages and food plates, folding chairs and picking up the decorations.

Maria Valencia, community volunteer who says she bonded with several of the patients, will be returning to volunteer again in the future.

“I wanted to help the elderly and share some happiness with them,” said Valencia. “I recommend that everyone take a moment in their busy lives to help those in need that don’t have anyone to help them. You never know, you could be making someone happy…even just for a moment.”

Matt Huefner, administrator for the Camarillo Health Care Center, was thankful for the assistance of the students and members of the community.

“The community involvement in healthcare is critical,” said Huefner. “Especially in long-term skilled nursing care facilities, we just don’t have enough resources to be able to meet every one of the patients’ needs.”

The festivities continued with smooth piano music in one room and live singing and dancing in the other. The patients’ faces lit up with joy as they enjoyed the entertainment, a few glasses of apple cider and of course slices of turkey.

Mayra Pacheco, Sociology Club treasurer, also volunteered to assist in the Thanksgiving dinner.

“My favorite part about tonight was getting to know the elderly and being able to communicate with them on a personal level,” Pacheco said.

Hector Rivas, Sociology Club member, had never volunteered at the healthcare center before.

“It’s important to help the community,” Rivas said. “At first, I was a little unsure of what I was doing, but then it felt good.”

The OC Sociology Club would like to remind everyone that the holidays are a season of giving, and whether it’s your time, your efforts, or even a simple smile, it will always brighten someone’s day.