Wine Country Times

Over the last 10 years, retired civil engineer Leroy Cardenzoli has found purpose in donating his expertise to various non-profit organizations, particularly Women's Recovery Services (WRS). From cleaning gutters to installing facility upgrades, Cardenzoli has become a vital part of the organization's work.

"My family comes first but volunteering my time has become my full-time hobby," Cardenzoli told the Wine Country Times. "I thoroughly enjoy every minute of work that I am doing and being thanked every day by women, children, and staff members for my efforts. This makes me love what I do even more than I thought possible."

After 45 years of working in the City of Santa Rosa, Cardenzoli retired from his civil engineering firm in 2011 and got involved with WRS in 2014 through his Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club membership.

He quickly made a mark on the organization. In just his first few months as a volunteer, Cardenzoli took care of a 'fix-it list' that included everything from repairing kitchen sinks, cleaning out a garage, landscaping, and electrical work. And this was just in one of the facilities he helps maintain.

"I am a member of the Maintenance Committee that is in charge of maintenance for all of the WRS facilities," Cardenzoli said. "These facilities include the main downtown facility with an 8 unit apartment, office building, program building, kitchen and dining hall, child care facility, and four storage buildings. In addition, WRS has three single-family houses around town. Each of these houses has three bedrooms."

WRS was founded in 1975 in Sonoma County, Calif., and caters to women affected by substance abuse. It offers a 120-day Residential Program for pregnant and parenting women, a Children's Program, and an eight-month AfterCare program, during which families can live in a transition home while they get back on their feet.

By providing a safe and healthy setting for mothers and their families to live together, WRS seeks to break the cycle of addiction and teach women the life skills needed to reintegrate as responsible community members.

Mothers with young children or infants can still take advantage of the organization's programs. They can continue to live as a family while receiving treatment and attending classes, with their children cared for at the on-site Children's Program, or attending local schools in the community.

Cardenzoli also volunteers with other organizations, including Social Advocates for Youth (SAY), SOS Counseling, and The Living Room, but spends most of his time at WRS, where he has been able to directly experience how the organization's work is making an impact.

"I have seen a number of the women successfully complete the four-month program at the main facility and then move on to live in the transition houses for some time," Carlenzoli said. "These women can then get jobs and are able to live with their children in a peaceful environment."

And after a decade of helping out, Cardenzoli has no plans to slow down soon.

"I am now 80 years old and have been volunteering my time and skills to these various organizations way before I was retired. I spend 20 to 30 hours a week doing what I enjoy doing, but realize I cannot do it forever," he said. "I plan on volunteering my time to these organizations as long as I am able to do so."