We have often seen throughout the “Volunteer Spotlight” series that individuals in New Rochelle not only give their time to better the community that they live in, but that they are generous with their time as well, working long hours and many evenings, until the job is completed.
For a working professional such as Angela Stenroos of New Rochelle, her long hours during the day at the office are in many ways repeated on the weekends and in the evenings by her long hours volunteering, acting as co-president for the Albert Leonard Middle School Parent Teacher Association, teaching religious doctrine at on Sundays, being an active board members for various organizations such as the and and volunteering on occasion as an arbitrator for the New Rochelle City Court.
“I knew when we decided to raise our kids here in New Rochelle that I wanted to be very involved in the community,” Stenroos said, having grown up in Yonkers. “Giving back to the community and our kids, you really get a great deal out of it!”
This year was especially difficult during the opening of school at Albert Leonard due to . Stenroos, however, admitted that her job on the PTA was made less difficult by the parents who always prove to be a great help. “My job is made that much easier due to the great parents at the school and their willingness to lend a hand.”
Even early on in her adult life, before Stenroos had her two boys, she could be found teaching Catholic religious doctrine to students. While she considers the position to be “teaching a way of life,” she also credits the parents once again for being very hands-on and involved in their child’s education.
When asked what her family thinks about having such an active mom in the community, Stenroos jokingly remarked, “My husband swears that the word ‘No’ is not in my vocabulary!”
Her efforts to be involved in her community have not been lost on her children either, who are both Boy Scouts in New Rochelle and recently participated in the where City Hall was lined with American flags representing each of the victims in the attacks.
Her boys also recently were collecting donations for troops overseas, standing for long hours outside of a ShopRite supermarket, giving their time and efforts just as they see their mother do every day.
Stenroos is a Pace University Law School graduate, who also gives her time coaching students for court competitions, judging and critiquing these future magistrates and helping them successfully complete their law degrees. For her, volunteering has certainly become somewhat of a calling as she continues to never say “no,” and always seek out new opportunities to make a difference.
