Local Woman Is Dedicated To Serving The Community

Severna Park resident Sharon Atkinson has dedicated her retirement to making a difference.

Atkinson, who is a self-proclaimed people person, has always been interested in serving others. After retiring from school counseling in 2010, she used her free time to take on a variety of roles in the community.

Atkinson has been an active member of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s mission ministry. She has traveled to Malawi twice and Guatemala five times.

Inspired by her experiences in Guatemala, Atkinson began taking Spanish classes at Anne Arundel Community College.

She became involved in the Backpack Buddies Program at Tyler Heights Elementary school in Annapolis. The program provides meals and snacks to children in need. After seeing a need, Atkinson and another volunteer brought the program to Annapolis Middle School. Atkinson ran the program for six years before passing leadership to another group of volunteers.

“It was like my kid-fix,” said Atkinson. “I was ready to retire but I missed being around children. Now, 10 years later, the program is still going.”

In September of 2010, Atkinson started volunteering with Partners In Care (PIC), a nonprofit organization that allows seniors to age in place and remain independent. They provide rides, repair household items, establish connections and more.

“Partners in Care works on a reciprocity system,” said Atkinson. “We are the good neighbors people used to have. If we give you a ride, you don't pay for anything, but you do something else. You donate to the PIC boutique, or if we have an event, you would bake a cake for it.”

In her 10 years with PIC, Atkinson has driven over 8,378 miles and volunteered 1,588 hours. She said her favorite part of the job is the people she meets along the way.

“Their children have heard their stories 10,000 times,” she said. “I'm a new set of ears and their stories are just fascinating. It's just fun to share time with people who have such amazing life stories. I gain so much from it.”

Atkinson said one of her favorite memories is meeting a woman who was a holocaust survivor.

“Some of the people I will get to be really good friends with and they will request me when they need a ride,” said Atkinson. “It's really fun because you do get that relationship with them.”

She also volunteers in the PIC boutique, an upscale resale store that largely funds the PIC programs. Atkinson works the cash register every Friday afternoon.

“I love it all,” said Atkinson. “I like the one-on-one part of doing the job, but the boutique is fun because people get so excited to find wonderful bargains.”

Atkinson said PIC has become her “fun job.” Though she is technically retired, Atkinson will continue to volunteer with PIC and establish relationships that will last a lifetime.

“It is very much like family and they really do care for their members,” said Atkinson. “It's a neat group of people and they do such amazing things.”