When Hurricane Wilma swept through South Florida, Joy Miller thought the worst was over. She had no inkling on what was waiting for her back at the City’s Citizen Services office.

For the next couple of weeks into early November, Miller answered a flood of calls with little breaks in between.

Miller had only started volunteering for the City of Coral Springs a month before Hurricane Wilma hit. Although it was tough getting situated and learning how to respond to residents’ needs, she felt it was perfect timing.

“I was really thrown into dealing with people, but it was great experience,” Miller said.

Not once did she regret volunteering during that hectic time. “I was happy to help people,” she said.

Her supervisor at Citizen Services, Shirley Calhoun, also testified to her willingness to work.

“Joy has a wonderful personality,” Calhoun said. “That’s exactly what we need here because sometimes we’re called on to help residents who are having a problem.”

Miller, who worked in the banking industry for 23 years, has a knack for speaking with customers. She always has a smile, which residents can sense even over the phone. If Miller doesn’t know the response to a question, she keeps her promise to call the resident back with the answer.

She retired in 1993 but continued to work part-time for a couple years. Miller’s husband later developed Parkinson’s disease and she became his exclusive caregiver. When her husband passed away, she began looking for a way to use her skills to help others and to keep busy.

“I was looking for a meaningful way to fill my time, and volunteering for the City worked out perfectly,” she said.

Miller continues to devote 10 hours a week to the City and loves every minute of it. She is also a huge sports fan and enjoys playing tennis and ping-pong, as well as swimming.

To find out how you can donate your time to the City, contact Volunteer Coordinator Kim Sanecki at 954-346-4430.