Meet the Chore Volunteers - Pete!

Pete Tilgner volunteers with Chore on Mondays and Wednesdays, on the Chore Van #2.  He has been with us for 8 years.  He was an art teacher for 37 years at Ben Franklin Middle School before retiring.  Hiking and trail maintenance and development are two of his other interests.  He was a New York/New Jersey Trail Supervisor for Sterling Forest State Park for 14 years, and currently helps maintain seven miles of trails at the Tenafly Nature Center.  

Since retirement, for the past 17 years he has been creating his own art work in the form of digital/manipulated photo images, samples of which can be found at petertilgner@photoart.com .  “Chore means being with like-minded friends doing work that helps people live safer, better lives.  I volunteer for Chore because it allows me to use the skills I have developed over the years—the work gives me satisfaction in knowing that I was instrumental in keeping our clients safe at home.  The added benefit is not only meeting the people of Bergen County, but also working with my fellow volunteers.  Every day is an adventure.  A trailer park on Route 46 or a high rise in Fort Lee—we see it all.  The most recent memorable moment was a client in Teaneck who had a majestic cat that required a pet ladder to climb into the easy chair it was regally occupying.  I enjoy the pets in peoples’ homes.”

Support Chore and the many other programs at the Bergen Volunteer Center at our Annual Hearts of Gold Gala on Thursday, November 9 at the Stony Hill Inn. Visit bergenvolunteers.org to learn more.