Patricia Brown started volunteering in her community nearly 45 years ago.
The 82-year-old Brown has spent thousands of hours supporting New Mexico community projects and people in need.
Her first big project raised money for a child guidance center, and, once involved, she said she discovered the tremendous joy that comes with helping others.
"Seeing people respond, believing that we can give some hope is so rewarding," Brown said. "And each one of us has something to donate."
Brown's positive outlook on life has led her to many experiences. She has volunteered in food banks, hospitals and has helped in the advancement of La Casa, a home for abused women in Las Cruces.
Brown is a mother of four and has managed to balance a family while opening her heart to complete strangers.
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Her daughter, Kate Marotta, said she is a loving, giving and kind-hearted woman who is always willing to help those who are less fortunate.
"She gives people strength when they're around her," Marotta said.
Brown has helped the Newman Center in Las Cruces to feed families who may not have the means to get adequate meals. She said sometimes people have the impression that families go to food banks because they don't work or because they are too lazy to get a job. In reality, Brown said, it's partly because people aren't paid well and go through tough times every now and then.
Brown said everyone needs help sometimes, and that's not a bad thing.
"I get great pleasure from working," she said. "If they need help and I'm available, I'll give it."
Brown said she also volunteered for 15 years at Memorial General Hospital, where she spent a lot of time working in the emergency room.
Marotta is a pediatric nurse and knows the importance of working with people in that type of environment.
"She is tremendously supportive, she is a good listener and she always encouraged people," Marotta said.
Brown's ability to connect with people also led her to work at a hospice as a respite caregiver. She helped families who needed a break from caring for their sick family members around the clock, providing company to the dying.
"There are so many people that really do care about other people," Brown said. "There's a lot of love out there to receive and to give," she said.
Brown's son John said he has learned a lot of valuable ideas from his mother that have helped him throughout his life.
"The measure of a person's worth is in how they help those who are less fortunate than they," he said.
He said his mother has never wanted any special recognition and has always done things from her heart, expecting nothing in return.
Brown said she encourages people to do the same by offering something to others.
"You meet people from so many different walks of life," Brown said. "It enlarges your view of the world."
