The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors have announced Placerville resident David Zelinsky as the 2024 Senior of the Year award recipient at its recent Board meeting. David was selected from a group of seventeen for his exemplary volunteer service in El Dorado County assisting local Veterans, and as part of two Fire Safe Councils.
“We’d like to congratulate David Zelinsky as this year’s recipient of the El Dorado County 2024 Senior of the Year award,” said Timalynn Jaynes, Assistant Director of Human Services in the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency. “David has a true heart for serving others, including his exceptional volunteer efforts helping our local military veterans and his work to keep communities fire safe. His passion for helping others is genuine and inspiring. Thank you, David!”
Zelinsky, a resident of El Dorado County for 48 years, currently spends more than 30 hours per week volunteering in the community. As Chair of the Placerville Fire Safe Council and a board member of the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, Zelinsky volunteers alongside others on the councils to conduct community education and events focused on making homes and communities safer in the event of a wildland fire. “Our ultimate goal is to have fire wise communities, and to save homes and lives,” said Zelinsky. “The work is very motivating to me.”
Full of endless energy, Zelinsky also volunteers his time helping local military veterans who are experiencing homelessness and other challenges. Zelinsky strives to serve veterans while connecting them with the resources and supports they need. He helps veterans with necessities such as arranging a ride to the bank, providing help filling out applications and paperwork, and more critically, works to find housing for unhoused individuals. Zelinsky has been helping veterans in El Dorado County as a volunteer for the past 11 years and has assisted more than 1,200 veterans during that time. “It’s an honor and means a great deal to me to help our local veterans,” said Zelinsky.
In addition to Zelinsky, seventeen other older adults in El Dorado County were recognized for their volunteer service as nominees for the 2024 Senior of the Year award. Nominees were Cathie Adams, Meg Anderson, Ron and Linda Bier, Bob and Maria Brugger, William Comstock, Edward Miller, Dick Edmonds, Arthur Molho, Olivia Moreno, Jan LePouvoir, Jerry and Karen Pullin, Christopher and Marilia Smith, and Kevin Stobaugh.
“While there can only be one Senior of the Year, our heartfelt thanks go out to all the nominees for their time, generous spirit and desire to make a difference in our communities,” said Jaynes.
The El Dorado County Area Agency on Aging and the Commission on Aging sponsor the Senior of the Year award each year. For questions about the award, or to learn about older adults services in El Dorado County, call Senior Information & Assistance at (530) 621-6369, or visit https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/Services/Assistance-Programs/Seniors/Senior-Services
