Centerpiece: A salary of smiles

The conversation is corporate in the sense that they're discussing the month's agenda and a calendar of events, but this isn't any ordinary company. It's a church group. One that works as a business — in a sense — though the members don't get paid monetarily. They are the school volunteers for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Naples. And they get paid in smiles.

That's what keeps volunteers like Jane Trites coming back year after year. "You get the warm fuzzies," the spunky senior jokes about her receipt of payment in smiles — dozens of them on a daily basis.

It's the volunteers' job to do anything and everything that the Shadowlawn Elementary School principal sees fit. Mostly that means assisting in the classroom, reading and just showing students that the community cares.

"I can't quit," Trites says, whispering that she's 20 years in the volunteer biz. "I never want to leave." That seems to be the consensus of the several dozen men and women — mostly retirees — that are part of organizer Bob Ricci's band of devoted volunteers.

"Remember that Forrest Gump movie — that smile he had?" the Rev. Frank King asks. That's the same smile he says he sports when at Shadowlawn, adding "It brings a lot to my heart." The school volunteer program at St. Paul's Episcopal Church started about four years ago as an outgrowth of a men's group at the 300-member church. Ricci says one day organizers realized instead of just helping out sporadically at the school, through gathered donations and the like, they should actually organize themselves for their community school and have planned events, raise money for needed items, have set times to volunteer and even wear special shirts to set them apart.

"We didn't know what to expect, and they didn't know what to expect," Ricci says of the first days of volunteering. But as the years have passed it's evolved from a partnership to a close friendship at Shadowlawn.

Principal Tim Ferguson practically glows when he discusses what the group of volunteers has done for his youngsters. "They're here anytime we need them." That's when Ferguson starts citing statistics — 78 percent of his 735 students are eligible for free or reduced lunch; 40 percent of students speak English as their second language. There are a number of other startling stats, all of which are helped by the heartfelt assistance of the church and other volunteers.

"They're able to provide that one-on-one support," Ferguson says. "They're that one special person. A connection." And they also help provide much needed items for the school. For instance, Ferguson says last year the church volunteers raised money and presented 100 pairs of sneakers to the school. Then there are the dozens of fully equipped backpacks that were donated and the Thanksgiving baskets distributed to needy families. The list goes on and on.

Walking the halls of Shadowlawn on a recent school day, it's easy to see the friendship that's blossomed between the two generations. There are several baby blue shirt-clad volunteers roaming the music filled halls with smiling students by their sides. Other volunteers are placed in classrooms and the head guy, Ricci, is planted in the library.

As for Trites, she's sitting in a class reading to about 20 kindergartners who are mesmerized by her expressiveness as she tells the story of "Oopsie Otter." "She's been my volunteer for 20 years," says a thrilled Peggy Wright, instructional leader for Shadowlawn Elementary kindergartners for the last 25 years. "It's just been delightful." On this day her students have no interest in the four visitors watching from the back of their class, taking in storytime. The kids are listening to Trites, who's asking questions about the book.

"Sometimes when you don't come when you're called, you get in trouble," Trites says and tilts her head. "Think they're gonna get in trouble?" "Yes!" the youngsters yell.

With that exclamation, it's off to the computer lab to check out another group of kindergartners are working on educational games with the help of their teacher and a St. Paul volunteer.

"The children call me Mrs. T," says a smiling Nicki Trabilsy, who's in her second year helping out in the computer lab. "They're adorable." The feeling seems mutual, as she leans down to converse with a little girl in orange shorts and a white T-shirt emblazoned with a bright butterfly. "There you are, Kristina Cortada. See if you can do this," Trabilsy says and grins again.

With a click of the mouse Kristina is off and running with her game and Trabilsy moves on to the next student in need. This goes on for the rest of the class period.

Then it's on to the final stop of the tour, the media center — a colorful place of pinks and blues. Sitting near the entrance is Ricci, along with three brothers who are practicing a reading program on one of the library computers.

This is a special group of boys, Ricci's wife, Kathy, says as she watches her husband weave his magic. He's worked with them about six weeks. Natives of Haiti, the three came with their parents to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs. None of them spoke a word of English and Ricci has been trying every trick he knows to get the boys talking.

He seems to be succeeding. The brothers surrounding Ricci start to sway as the music starts for "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands." It's slow first, but then the clapping ensues. By the end of the song there are even three smiles — four if you count Ricci's.

The boys look comfortable and Ricci ecstatic.

"These kids are full of love," Ricci says of these students and those he's worked with over the last few years. "They make it all worthwhile."