Raised in Tulsa, 66-year-old Sandy Donahue is the daughter of two teachers who made helping others an important part of their lives. Her parents volunteered at the March of Dimes, Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. When Donahue talks about her parents, she does so with pride, so it only makes sense that she, too, would make giving back to her community a priority.

Donahue is a volunteer for The Senior Source, a United Way partner agency that has worked to improve the quality of life for older adults in the Dallas area since 1961. Through the agency’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), she regularly talks to groups about the services offered by the Homeland Security Initiative.

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In the aftermath of 9-11, the program’s premise has been to replace fear with knowledge. Volunteer seniors like Donahue talk to people about what steps they can take in an emergency situation, before first-team responders – police, fire emergency and medical teams – arrive at the scene. She talks about simple things, such as what to do when the power goes out or gas lines shut down at home.

“You’d be surprised how many people don’t know what to do,” says Donahue, a retired English teacher.