Volunteers: The unsung heroes of the City of Port St. Lucie

Published on April 15, 2024

Joe Venturo spent 23 years as an employee with the City of Port St. Lucie, including time as Pro Shop Manager for The Saints Golf Course, before finally deciding to retire.

But retirement didn’t suit the self-proclaimed “golf guru” so he wound up in a familiar place – serving as a volunteer at The Saints.

“It’s fulfilling,” the 70-year-old Port St. Lucie resident said. “I love golf. I love being around it. It’s a great atmosphere. There’s camaraderie and it gives you a good feeling of accomplishment.”

Venturo is one of 413 individuals who volunteer for the City of Port St. Lucie across several departments, including the Port St. Lucie Police Department, Parks & Recreation, the Port St. Lucie Youth Council and the MIDFLORIDA Event Center. During Fiscal Year 2022/23, volunteers donated more than 53,000 hours, saving the City more than $1.7 million in wages and benefits.

“That is an incredible number,” said Human Resources Generalist Delfina Perera. “(Volunteering) is a great way for people to give back to the community and participate in activities they enjoy and feel comfortable doing.”

April is National Volunteer Month, which is the perfect opportunity for Port St. Lucie to show its appreciation for all the individuals who give their time to benefit the City’s residents. Volunteers selflessly dedicate their time and talents to serve our community, and they’re essential partners in the City’s efforts to address residents’ needs.

By sharing their skill sets, volunteers enhance current staffing and save the City time and money.

“We’re so grateful for them,” said Alyssa Figur, Recruitment Manager for Human Resources.

Volunteers don’t even need to be in the workforce, Figur said. Many of the City’s volunteers are retirees who are looking for opportunities to stay active and involved.

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities within the City.

For instance, there are volunteer coaches – a lot of them are parents of children and teens who are participating – in Parks & Recreation’s Junior Basketball program. Former financial directors and former building inspectors have shared their expertise as volunteers with the City. Have experience in event planning? Volunteer at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center. Love golf? Join the team at The Saints Golf Course.

That’s what Venturo did four years ago when he joined the hospitality team at The Saints. He greets guests, unloads bags, cleans golf carts and makes sure customers are equipped with everything they need before they head out onto the greens.

Before he started volunteering, Venturo worked for more than two decades for the City. He moved here with his family in 1987 and worked a few odd jobs, but then was hired as a mechanic in the Public Works Department. Soon after, though, the work was subbed to a contractor.

“They wanted me to stay on as a mechanic, but I wanted to stay with the City.”

So, Venturo was transferred to the Finance Department, and “was a fish out of water for a while.”

But his luck changed in 2001 when the City purchased The Saints Golf Course.

Venturo applied to be the Pro Shop manager at The Saints. He was hired and worked there until his retirement.

Retirement made him restless.

For a while, Venturo said he “wanted to try the ‘see what it’s like retirement thing,’ but it didn’t work out, he volunteered at PGA for a few years but then moved to The Saints in 2020.

It’s been a wonderful experience ever since.

“I come to work and everybody’s happy to be here, we’re glad to be here,” Venturo said. “It’s a fun atmosphere, even though it can get hectic at times. I can’t wait to get here.”

Venturo creates his own schedule and enjoys flexible hours.

The Saints management also recognizes the importance of volunteering and appreciates their hard work, Venturo said. Staff host several appreciation luncheons throughout the year to honor volunteers and their contributions.

“They know we’re doing a good job for them,” he said. “We’re doing a good job for them because we want to be here. It’s easy when you know they appreciate us.”

Even though one of the incentives is a free round of golf for every shift he works, Venturo said his golf game has not improved.

“Nooooo,” Venturo laughs. “I’m trying to get my grandson into it, and I told him I’ve been playing for about 40 years, and I still stink, but it makes the job easier.”

Venturo emphasizes that it’s still a job, and that even though he is a volunteer, he takes it seriously.

“It’s very important as a volunteer to show up. It’s still a shift,” he said. “We pride ourselves on getting every bag, getting them loaded, taking care of the guests, fulfilling their needs, getting them out there, ready to have a good day.”

For more information about volunteering with the City, visit www.cityofpsl.com/volunteer.