Ondina Jeffers was named the township’s recipient of the 2002 Sylvia Weiss Senior Citizen Award Tuesday.
By: Chris Karmiol
EAST WINDSOR Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd at the township Senior Center Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Janice Mironov proclaimed it "Older Americans Day" and named this year’s winner of the Sylvia Weiss Senior Citizen Award for Outstanding Service as a Volunteer: Ondina Jeffers.
"We have so many good people in our community who do so many good things," Mayor Mironov said in a speech she gave in the stars and stripes-decorated senior center, "it makes it hard to select one."
Judy Friedman, a kindergarten teacher at the Walter C. Black School, nominated Ms. Jeffers for the award. Ms. Jeffers is a "grandpal" volunteer in her classroom.
"Ms. Jeffers is the perfect addition to my classroom," Ms. Friedman told the crowd, reading from the nomination letter she wrote. "She is a loving, dedicated person (and a) wonderful asset to the school."
The mayor, in her second round of speeches, said that Ms. Jeffers’ volunteering at the Black School was only a "small dent" in her "widespread and deep involvement" with the community.
Her involvement is widespread indeed. Ms. Jeffers is on the executive board of the Latina Women’s Council, the chairwoman of the East Windsor Commission on Aging, former president of the League of Women Voters, former chairwoman of the Community Action Service Center in Hightstown and a member of the Central Jersey Network of Black Women.
She received a plaque to mark the honor, a basket of flowers and a gift from Ms. Friedman. The award is named for Sylvia Weiss, a former member of the Township Council and initiator of the township’s senior programs, who was present at Tuesday’s celebration.
"I’ve known Ondina from way back," Ms. Weiss said. "Not only is she warm and loving with children, she is the same with adults."
Ms. Jeffers, 70, a former New York City school teacher, was all smiles and said she was taken aback and elated when she learned she won the honor. As for that special something she brings to the classroom?
"I hug them all," Ms. Jeffers said of the school children. "They are called my sugar bushes."
At that comment one senior chimed in: "If she calls you her little sugar bush you know you’re in her good graces."