Longtime Edinburg volunteer hopes to be example for others

Teodora Treviño has always given time and effort to her community, whether it’s through church, school functions or as an accidental politician.

“One night we were at a political rally and this friend of ours who we always helped, he was already a mayor — Mayor Richard Alamia — and we were just joking and he said he was looking for a candidate to run for city commissioner and I said, ‘I’ll do it,’” Treviño, 70, said.

Her exclamation was taken seriously, and before Treviño knew it, she was campaigning for election in 1984 in Edinburg.

Treviño served one term and gained a lot of experience with speaking in public, attending functions and giving her time on boards and committees — valuable knowledge which helps her continue serving the people of her community.

“I liked it very, very much,” Treviño said. “And I continue helping them out. As a matter of fact, I turned out to be presiding judge for the elections. I’ve been doing it almost 25 years.”

Aside from her political career, she volunteers in many other ways. As a mother of four children, there were parent-teacher association meetings to attend, appointments with the Brownies, a girls’ guide organizations like the Boy Scouts, and the time she gave as a Boy Scout den mother.

“Every time there was a function at school, I was there,” Treviño said.

While serving as commissioner, working as a self-employed insurance agent and raising her children, Treviño continued to volunteer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where she has attended services for 40 years.

“At first I was just a volunteer (for Catechism), and then a teacher’s aide for third grade, and the teacher of third grade resigned and I became the teacher,” Treviño said. “I continued until my children were graduated, but then my grandchildren were coming in.”

Her involvement with the church eventually grew as time went by.

“(Like) the rosary group: I go help out at funerals; we do rosaries there,” Treviño said. “And the St. Joe’s Club … and the St. Vincent Paul club and the Rosary Makers, we make rosaries to give out. If you go by there on Sundays … I’m there helping out.”

Even when Treviño was severely afflicted by her osteoarthritis and spent years in a wheelchair, she managed to give her time to various groups.

Treviño said she loves to serve her community, but it goes beyond that.

“I think I’m giving them an example that with my illness, and the times I couldn’t even walk, but I’m still there for them,” Treviño said.

Volunteering is an important part of Treviño’s life, and although her grandchildren are almost finished with CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine), she likely won’t give up serving her community.

“I’ll continue as long as my Lord is there with me I have faith and I love Him,” Treviño said. “And he helps me, I help Him.”

Amy Nichol Smith covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. She can be reached at asmith@themonitor.com, (956) 683-4420 and on Facebook.