Virginia Volunteer Spotlight: Inez Arnett-Ferrer

As an AARP volunteer, Inez Arnett-Ferrer is able to apply her skills from her previous job and her love of volunteering to her roles with AARP. Since 2017, she has served as the president of the AARP Chapter in Clarksville.

Arnett-Ferrer grew up in New York and retired as assistant director of support services at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Her years in the administration there taught her organizational and people skills that have served her well. Arnett-Ferrer feels she has a “certain connection with people” by using “compassion as I am dealing with them. I had to learn this while working with a large staff as their boss.” In 2011, she retired and moved to Clarksville, “an area my husband knew well.”

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Joining a church and becoming active, she still wanted to do more. “I don’t want to be just sitting in the house,” she says. Spotting a flyer for AARP, she investigated and found herself affiliated with Occoneechee Chapter 741. Eventually, she became the vice president and then the president of the AARP Chapter in Clarksville. “AARP has helped me to grow in ways I never thought I would,” says Arnett-Ferrer.

As chapter president, she oversees a very active group. Feeling that “we need to stay involved and connected to the community,” she guides the chapter in learning, helping others and enjoying social events. They try to do at least one meeting or luncheon every month in addition to helping in the community. One of her favorite recent memories was delivering 125 roses to the local assisted living facility. This happened to coincide with the Valentine’s Day bash, and all the ladies were dressed up. Arnett-Ferrer stopped at one lady’s room, complimented her and gave her flowers. “The look on that woman’s face was so beautiful. It was a moment that made me think that what we are doing is worthwhile.” She noted that small gestures can make a difference.

One of the chapter’s major projects was making 50 survival kits for the town’s fire department to give to people who have experienced a disaster in their home. Working with the Richmond Red Cross and the local bank, the chapter collected items such as toiletries, canned goods and flashlights to help tide people over until they received additional assistance. Another time, the chapter helped the local library by donating audio/visual equipment of a projector and screen, as well as a portable table.

In addition, the chapter works closely with the local Chamber of Commerce, helping with many of their activities. Add in several social events, such as going by bus to the National D-Day Memorial celebration in Bedford and travelling with other chapters to the North Carolina State Fair, her chapter remains active.