We recently visited with the exceptional Karen and her Duxbury High School senior volunteer assistant, Rachel Wooley. How long have you lived in Duxbury?

I have been a resident for 35 years, so I guess you could call me a “townie.”

Where is your favorite spot in town?

The beach. I also love a lot of the stores in town. Dunkin Donuts, too!

How did you get involved with the Duxbury Senior Center?

About 12 years ago, I called the director at the time, Kristen, and asked if there was any volunteer work I could help out with. I showed her how magnificent I was on the computer, and so she had me come in and answer phones, take notes for people on the computer, etcetera. After two years, they decided I was okay, so they gave me a job. I started the Home Delivered Meals program.

What is the Home Delivered Meals program?

We send out freshly prepared meals every day to people in Duxbury who are in need. Usually they or their children or someone hears about the program through word of mouth or in the paper, and give us a call to set something up. They get a full meal -- for example chicken, potato, vegetable, dessert and choice of milk, juice or water. Rachel here often includes her homemade coffee cake, which is delicious. (We tried it and it is -- yum!)

Who delivers the meals?

We have over 50 volunteers, most whom have been with us a long time -- busy people who give up their own time and gas money to drive a route in town and drop off the bags of food. All they want to do is help, help, help. Each meal is packed in a cooler or hot bag with specific instructions. Often we prepare special meals for people who are diabetic, gluten free, etcetera. I like to treat each recipient as if I were feeding my own 94-year-old mother. On Sundays, I call most of them and find out what they want for the whole week.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Intermingling with everyone, letting them know that a blind person is just like everyone else except they can’t see!

Have you always been blind?

No. When I was about 24 or 25 I started not seeing so well, which was a complication due to my diabetes. At the time, I was working selling drugs for Mass Wholesaler Drugs and was driving 75,000 miles a year in the northeast region. One day when I was driving home from Springfield, I all of a sudden could only see three feet in front of me. I had to follow the lights on a big truck the entire way home in order to make it, which I now cannot believe I did. At that point, I went to the Joslin Clinic, where they were doing trials for laser therapy. I was one of the very first recipients of laser eye treatment. Unfortunately, they burned out my retinas and I lost my vision. I had two eye surgeries to try and fix it, but they couldn’t. About five years ago, I was also a guinea pig for artificial vision. I traveled to Portugal for the surgery to have over 100 electrodes put into my head. The surgery did not work and my brilliant doctor passed away, and unfortunately took all his knowledge with him, so we were left in the dark. I am very optimistic and still believe I will get my eyesight back someday.

Karen, you are pretty awesome! How do you keep such a positive attitude?

It’s always very positive around here. I like it “up, up, up” at all times. I’ve had most of my volunteers for many years. I’m a lucky kid to have gotten this job. Someone took a chance on me. It’s part-time, but to me it’s a full-time job. Always look on the bright side of things and always enjoy what you do.