91-year-old woman gets award for volunteering

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Reva Collins may be slowing down a bit, but she's still active as a volunteer with the Bollinger County Senior Center, some other favorite causes and with the Republican Party.

At 91, she's entitled to slow down a little. If she didn't volunteer, she said, she'd probably rock -- as in a rocking chair.

"You rock," said Martha A. Peters, director of the senior center, using the more modern sense of the word.

Modern Woodmen thinks Collins rocks, too. The organization recently gave her a special award acknowledging her volunteerism.

"She is such a lovely lady," said Ken Volkerding of Modern Woodmen. "She just celebrated her birthday and she's just as spry as can be."

Visitors to the senior center can count on meeting her. She's usually the one at the door greeting people and taking their money for lunch.

"She's been on the board here at least 15 years," Peters said. "All we need to do is call her and she's ready to go to work, helping serve, whatever we need her to do. She's a wonderful dedicated volunteer."

Collins said she especially enjoys politics, and worked hard recently to campaign for Kenny Hulshof, who ran as a Republican for governor but lost to Democrat Jay Nixon.

"I guess I didn't work hard enough," Collins said.

Over the years, Collins has volunteered with the Bollinger County Museum, and with Hahs Chapel General Baptist Church where she still serves as a greeter.

"I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people," she said. "I really enjoy it."