Twenty years ago, Ralph Saltzman volunteered for a newspaper collection fundraiser at St. Elizabeth Church in Baldwin Borough.

Soon, he was helping with the "white elephant" sale that is held during the parish's annual Spring-a-Rama carnival. One day, while working on the sale, he was invited to eat at the Cloverleaf Area Ecumenical Food Pantry inside the church building.

And so began the Whitehall resident's involvement with the pantry, which assists 100 eligible families each week.

As volunteer director of the food pantry, Mr. Saltzman -- who will celebrate his 79th birthday on Christmas Eve -- was named the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer in Community Service Award by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Allegheny County.

He was one of four volunteers honored at the program's 37th annual recognition luncheon Oct. 28 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, which drew 498 volunteers and administrators.

The other honorees were Charlotte Love, 86, of Squirrel Hill; Jay Otrhalik, 78, of Leetsdale; and Alice Grimes, 60, of Oakland.

"We tend to call these people awardees, not winners. They represent what our volunteers do on a daily basis," said Linda Soldressen, project director of the RSVP program.

"Ralph is out there saying, 'I'm 78. I get up and work at the food bank.' He can serve as an example to other seniors to volunteer and be more active. I find them all inspirational," she said.

In her nomination letter, Suzanne M. Bilski, food bank coordinator, called Mr. Saltzman "selfless."

"What other attribute would influence him to spend more than 2,000 hours each year for the past 10-plus years donating his time and energy ... Ralph doesn't just exemplify this style of life, he lives it daily," she wrote.

RSVP is locally sponsored by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross and is federally funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Through the local RSVP program, which was established nationally and in Allegheny County in 1972, 800 senior volunteers, ages 55 and older, work at 100 nonprofit agencies.

Mr. Saltzman spends four or more days a week on pantry work, such as collecting, loading, storing and distributing nonperishable food products.

The pantry provides food items each Tuesday for more than 100 registered families living within a two-mile radius of the church. At this time of year, pantry assistance includes gift vouchers to Giant Eagle for food for holiday meals.

A retired steelworker, Mr. Saltzman said an added benefit to his work is becoming friends with the 40 pantry volunteers and many of the clients.

He and his wife, Rita, have two sons, two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.

"We always considered ourselves blessed," Mr. Saltzman said. "I like to give back."

To volunteer with RSVP, call 412-263-3184.

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