Valerie Freeman is the Kapiti Elder Person of the Year

DESERVED: Valerie Freeman is the Kapiti Elder Person of the Year.

Valerie Freeman is the Kapiti Elder Person of the Year.

She was given the award at a function at Metlifecare Kapiti Village on Tuesday which featured other finalists Sheila Hart, Shirley Jarden and Patrick McCann.

Mrs Freeman has been a volunteer at the Salvation Army family store in Paraparaumu for 15 years.

She works three shifts per week, each four hours long, at the front counter.

"I was asked to come and work for the store, when I was ready, after my husband died.

"Two years later I started there and have really enjoyed it.

"I love the customers and helping the Sallies to do good work."

And she's served as a facilitator for the Kapiti branch of Widowed, Separated and Divorced (WSH) organisation for 11 years.

"It's a 10 week course twice a year and it's for people who are grieving - it they've been widowed, or their partner has gone off with someone else, or they've lost somebody to death, and we included in the last few years people who have got their partner in care."

Mrs Freeman said winning the award was a shock especially as the other finalists, and nominees, "were all wonderful people".

"And there's wonderful people who probably weren't even nominated."

When it comes to helping people, Mrs Freeman said, "I don't even think about it, I just do it".

The third Kapiti Elder Person of the Year was organised by the Kapiti Coast Older Persons' Council as well as Age Concern Kapiti.