Albert Torres

Written by Belva Seaberry

“What goes around, comes around,” is a paraphrase of an old saying about the virtues of reaping and sowing. What came to Albert Torres as a child, he has been giving back abundantly to the Sacramento community in volunteer services. Growing up in a family of modest means in Oakland, Albert and his family made good use of the neighborhood community center and other resources. Appreciative of that help, he always kept in mind that he would someday help out others. After earning a degree in electrical engineering at UC Berkeley, Albert moved to Sacramento to work for the State Highway Department. Later, he transferred to the Dept. of Water Resources and, since retiring in 1984, Albert has put in many hours helping seniors in programs that focus on living better on limited budgets.

Albert began as an RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer with the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) more than 15 years ago as a Driver Escort. Recognizing his excellent organizational skills, the department asked him to serve as Transportation Coordinator to plan schedules and assign drivers. He volunteered from 8 to 12 hours/week including filling in as a substitute driver. Although he retired from that position recently, Albert still pitches in when needed with the annual Christmas gift-giving and delivery service to shut-in seniors, Gifts from the Heart.

After starting with DHHS, Albert saw a need to help Spanish-speaking people fill out all kinds of forms, especially tax forms, so Albert took the AARP Tax Counseling for the Elderly training. “People need help in filling out forms,” Albert says, “because of language and reading problems.” Bud carries the same enthusiasm to his other volunteer activities. A resident of Rancho Cordova, he’s been a volunteer at the KAISER facility there since it opened 15 years ago. His duties at the Information and Blood Pressure Check Station include directing visitors, taking blood pressures, and escorting patients. A friendly man with an infectious chuckle, Bud greets everyone with a smile and goes out of his way to be helpful. At his post faithfully all day on Mondays, Bud says, “It’s my payback to medical science for favors rendered in the past.” He says, “All the staff appreciate the smallest thing you do. The job is definitely a pleasure.” A colleague sas “Bud is a very generous man; ‘service’ is his middle name.”

Albert has become an expert on a variety of rebate and discount programs available to seniors and worries that the programs are not publicized enough. Albert volunteers at the Fruitridge Community Center Wednesday mornings during the July to October filing period for the Homeowners and Renters Assistance Program under which those qualified can receive a tax rebate. From January to March Albert will be helping folks at the Fruitridge Center with the Sacramento City Utility Tax Rebate Program so they won’t have to go to City Hall. On Mondays, you’ll find Albert downtown at the Hart Center running the Hire a Senior Program which posts paid help-wanted positions and advises seniors looking for a variety of jobs. “We need to be more involved with helping seniors,” says Albert, “because there aren’t as many resources these days with agencies having to cut back on their budgets.”