Good Samaritan helps local women turn lives around

Volunteering at Dorothy Day Shelter in Rockville, Md., every first Saturday is a routine for 50-year-old Wanda Sims. Since 1998, Sims has volunteered at the shelter where she would usually spend 12-16 hours a week helping the women residents learn various life skills as they trudge the road to recovery."If I know something special is going on in one of the resident's life, if I know they're moving out or getting a new job, I take them to get their hair done or nails done," she said.

The women Sims is reaching out to are recovering drug and alcohol addicts. While at the shelter, Sims helped the women study for the GED, fill out job applications and create resumes.

Sims does what she believes is necessary to help those around her, she said. Whether it's helping the women at the shelter rehabilitate their lives, helping families find affordable housing in Montgomery County or helping the foster mother of five from church recover from breast cancer surgery, Sims' involvement and dedication to her community is sincere.

"I'm aware that she has prepared or provided dinners for the residents and has spent time helping them with their various issues," said Ronald Stone, a friend of Sims. Stone said Sims' community service is sincere.

"Unlike many people who participate in charity or community activities, Wanda actually digs in and becomes personally involved in this work. "Just raising money or advocating a cause to others is insufficient for her. Wanda has to work the project herself."

At Dorothy Day Shelter, a 20-day transitional shelter for unaccompanied, recovering women struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, Sims coordinated workshops on finance budgeting, HIV/AIDS, and teaches the women professional etiquette, including preparing and dressing for job interviews.

But Sims also volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, an organization that helps build affordable housing. She is a member of the organization's faith board which solicits churches to participate in fundraisers funds to the homes Habitat for Humanity builds in Montgomery County.

"Homelessness in general just always sort of resonated with me because there were just so many times when I was close to being homeless myself," Sims recounted. "I think that's one of the reasons I like going to the homeless shelter at Dorothy Day and working with Habitat for Humanity."

Sims grew up in a single-parent household where she was surrounded by a supportive community. When she went to Spellman College, she joined the Xi Sigma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, because she could see a lot of their community service work the sorority was doing.

Sims has also been an active member of many organizations First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Gaithersburg where she serves on the Lay Organization, Women's Missionary Society, President of Senior Usher Board and as a member of the Official Board.

"I would much rather be out helping somebody than sitting at home," she said. Her philosophy is that just the ordinary things can help people.

"You don't have to be rich, you don't have to know a lot of people, you just have to have it in your heart," she said. "My joy comes from knowing that the more I help, the better I feel the energy I have and the more I want to do.