Meals on Wheels volunteer named Citizen of the Year

Petaluma Realtor Ed Reiners has a heart for helping people, and his commitment to that was evident in how this Meals on Wheels driver planned a vacation to Alaska around his volunteer schedule.

In honor of his community spirit, Reiners has been named the 2009 Citizen of the Year by the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce and the Petaluma Argus-Courier as part of the annual Community Recognition Awards program.

Reiners was surprised with the big news on Tuesday morning.

“I was in total shock when they told me I was named Citizen of the Year,” said Reiners, vice president and manager of Frank Howard Allen’s Petaluma office on East Washington Street. “I love supporting the community. Petaluma supports us, so I feel we need to support Petaluma. That’s what I believe.”

A resident of Penngrove, Reiners has been a Realtor since 1988. He’s been a driver for Meals on Wheels for about 10 years.

“It’s one of the best causes in the world,” said Reiners. “My parents were involved with Meals on Wheels back in the Midwest. They thought it was a great thing to do. That’s the spirit that’s been instilled in me.”

In addition to Meals on Wheels, Reiners is a volunteer and supporter of Rebuilding Together Petaluma, the Committee on the Shelterless and the Petaluma People Services Center.

PACC executive director, Onita Pellegrini, said that Reiners was selected as Citizen of the Year for his community involvement in a variety of areas and for his quietness in serving.

“He’s someone that does so much and doesn’t do it publicly to be noticed — that’s what stood out to us,” said Pellegrini. “There are so many people in Petaluma that do so many wonderful things, but he does it without making a big deal out of it or wanting the spotlight on him.”

Reiners finds volunteering to be satisfying and enjoys being able to make a difference in someone’s life.

“It’s the whole thing of putting a smile on someone’s face,” he said. “It’s just knowing that you’re helping people.”

“There are so many other people who do incredible work in Petaluma,” he added. “I feel lucky to be in Petaluma. This is an amazing town.”

Reiners will be formally honored with the award at the 2009 Community Recognition Awards event being held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. March 27 at the Sheraton Petaluma Hotel, 745 Baywood Drive. Tickets are $20. For tickets and information, call the chamber office at 762-2785.

(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)