Frank Jaramillo was surprised to be voted best volunteer by El Defensor Chieftain readers.

“In high school, I remember sitting there trying to come up with our senior quotes at the end of our senior year, and the one I really liked was, “be the change that you want to see in the world,” and I’m really huge on that,” said Jaramillo. “I can’t come out and say, we need, we need, we need, if I’m not out there doing it.”

Jaramillo has four kids, and often volunteers with their sports as soccer dad, wrestling dad, basketball dad, football dad and volleyball dad. Jaramillo and his wife Carmen Marquez spent a season following the wrestling team and offering some physical therapy. They also volunteer to help out at 5K runs, showing up with cooling towels and hand warmers.

Frank and his wife Carmen are also two of four parents participating in a parents on patrol program at the Socorro schools, to offer guidance and mentorship during passing periods.

“I guess that’s what it really comes down to, is just wanting the kiddos to have more. Us old guys, we’ve already ruined it for ourselves, so we can make the kids lives a little bit better,” he said.

When Jaramillo’s kids aren’t in school, they go to Alamo with him to volunteer with Roadrunner Foodbank.

“I like getting my kids involved in everything. It keeps them out of trouble, and they get to see that Socorro does have a lot of cool events going on,” said Jaramillo. “Unless you jump into it, you really miss it.”

Cathy Cook | El Defensor Chieftain Editor