By MADDY VITALE
Sis Borden was surprised when she learned at Sea Isle City’s AARP Chapter 710 luncheon on Dec. 12 that she was named 2019 Volunteer of the Year.
The honor was so unexpected, she could barely stand up to accept the award.
When she realized that it was no dream, it was really happening, she made her way to the front of the room at the Tuckahoe Inn.
“My legs felt weak,” the 77-year-old Borden said with a smile as she told the story while sitting with some of her five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren at “Brunch With Santa” at VFW Post 1963 on Sunday.
As the crowd applauded, she accepted her award from Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio at the AARP holiday luncheon.
“I don’t even know if I thanked him. I was so nervous,” Borden said the mayor.
And she didn’t know the microphone was on either, she recalled.
“I told him, ‘Volunteers don’t get awards,”‘ she said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was so surprised.”
For those who know Sis Borden, her selection as 2019 Volunteer of the Year is anything but a surprise.
“We are blessed to live in a community like Sea Isle City that has so many good-hearted people who go out of their way to help others,” said Sea Isle Public Information Officer Katherine Custer. “Sis Borden is a tireless individual who is truly worthy of this year’s Volunteer of the Year for AARP’s Chapter 710.”
For eight years, Borden has been involved with Desiderio’s annual Holiday Toy and Food Drive, organized by the mayor’s assistant, Pattiann Ponichtera.
Each year, Borden meticulously wraps all of the presents donated to the toy drive.
“I do it so that I don’t spend my time eating Christmas cookies,” she joked.
Over all of those years, she estimated that she has wrapped thousands of gifts. And each year, while the number of presents to wrap may change slightly, she recalls wrapping at least 200 for each toy drive and sorting through boxes of food donated by local charities, civic groups, the business community and residents.
Borden is one of the local volunteers, known as the “mayor’s elves,” who play a big part in a communitywide campaign to collect and distribute the toys and boxes of food into the homes of needy families throughout Sea Isle.
“Sis is our favorite elf, and she does a fine job with our Toy and Food Drive,” the mayor said during the award presentation.
She has been an active member of the local community, currently sitting on AARP Chapter 710’s board of directors and volunteering as the group’s chairperson for the monthly “Buffet and Bingo” luncheons.
AARP President Frank Roach said in a press release, “Even though Sis is a fellow board member for Chapter 710, the rest of us on the board agreed to keep our decision about her being this year’s Volunteer of the Year a secret, because Sis is very humble and we thought she might not attend the Holiday Luncheon if she knew she was being honored.”
When asked why she donates so much of her time to charitable causes, Borden, who is a married, mother of two with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, wiped away tears.
She said she does it in honor of her late father, Jim Harris.
“My father — I do it because of my father. He volunteered for many things,” she said, her voiced filled with emotion. “I do it in his memory.”
Her husband, Fred Borden, 80, knows a little bit about why his wife volunteers. The couple have been married for 56 years.
“I believe she loves volunteering to help other people,” he pointed out. “She has probably been volunteering for all the years I can remember.”
The couple formerly owned a heating and air conditioning business in Pennsylvania.
Originally from Collingdale, Pa., Borden moved to Sea Isle City permanently in 2004 with her husband upon retirement in 2004, but owned a home in the shore town since 1982.
“She worked a lot in the business, but she always volunteered for things,” Fred Borden said.
The couple raised two children Anthony Borden, who lives in Pennsylvania, and Diane Borden, who has a home in Upper Township. While they were growing up, Sis volunteered for Girl Scout events and school activities, Fred said.
And on a rainy, chilly Monday, when SeaIsleNews.com tried to catch up with Sis, Fred said it might be difficult to reach her, partly because she is very humble, and partly because she is always on the go helping out with causes, events or with family.
“She just went now to gift-wrap at City Hall,” Fred explained. “Now, with the food coming in for the holiday drive, they are really busy packaging up food.”
Fred said his wife loves leading a life helping others.
“I know she is really devoted to the kids, and the grandkids and just helping everyone she can,” he said. “For Sis, that is what it is all about.”
