Debbie LaRosa

Please join us in welcoming our new Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie LaRosa. She started working for the Café of Life on January 25 and is working diligently to learn the names and preferences of our wonderful volunteers. One person does vegetables, another prefers pasta, another meat dishes. It's quite a job to keep them all straight, but with Yadi's help, she is learning fast.

Debbie has an extensive background In training and teaching. She worked for many years training personnel in the banking field. She trained tellers, customer service representatives, new hires in all areas of banking. She worked in a number of banks in the Boston, MA area as well as in Southwest Florida for the past 12 years. She's not a computer geek, but has had lots of computer experience related to her work.

In addition to taking over the Volunteer Coordinator position, Debbie will be assuming some of the accounting duties for the Café of Life. This should be a natural for someone who has spent so much time in the banking industry.

Debbie worked with underprivileged children in MA at North Suburban YMCA for nine years. She taught afterschool programs for children and prepared schedules, lesson plans and created special days for them. Many times the children would come to the Y needing some hygiene assistance. To do this and help the children keep their dignity, Debbie would have a hair and make‐up day for the young ladies. Each girl had a shoebox to keep her personal items and they loved the chance to wash and curl their hair and adorn their tresses with pretty bows and barrettes. Cooking day started out with little confections until Debbie realized that for many of the children that was the only food they had for the rest of the day. She then started creating menus of nourishing food that was also fun to make and eat.

Her interest in helping those less fortunate came to the forefront when one of her friends introduced her to picking up excess bread from the local supermarkets and taking it to Bonita Assistance. One day there was more than they could use, so Debbie found her way to the Café of Life. From then on the trips were to both Bonita Assistance and Café of Life. Soon Debbie became a regular volunteer and became right-hand woman to our Volunteer Coordinator. When Mary Ann found it necessary to leave the position, Debbie was the perfect fit to step in to the duties.

Debbie has a "family" of two Shitazus, Alex and Tanner. They keep her entertained and give her the unconditional love that can only come from beloved pets. Her passion is interior decorating and to do this she loves to shop at furniture consignment shops. She has the talent to find the perfect accessory and place it right where it belongs. She is active in her church and community writing articles about the Café of Life and collecting needed clothing and items for our clients.

Debbie is often at the Café to meet with our clients and our volunteers. Please stop by and welcome her.