Volunteerism alive and well in Tulsa

Saturday, March 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

President Bush has re-newed his call for volunteers. It's a second push for Americans to give back to their communities, something he first brought up with in his State of the Union address.

News on Six reporter Jenni Monet introduces us to a Tulsa woman who's following the President's advice. â€œSit down with them, make them feel comfortable." Ruby Brave Bear is getting to know her new surroundings at the Indian Health Care Resource Center, in Tulsa. It's where this self-employed professional will put in hours of work a week, expecting nothing more than helping others in need. "There's a lot of people out there who get themselves in situations where family just isn't there to take care of them."

Ruby is like thousands of American's volunteering for a good cause. After losing loved ones to diabetes, she'll be giving back to her native roots. "It opened my eyes to a need for people who have a few hours a week or even a month. With my family's medical problems, I'm able to fill the gap if somebody needs doctorâ€™s appointments.

President George Bush: â€œIn order to live in a free society, you need to give something back." Now, the President is urging all American's to signup for public service, a renewed call since his State of the Union address in January. "One of the things I've asked the country to do is to think about. 4-thousand hours of public service for the rest of your life, or two years."

For Ruby, a few hours a week, every month will go a long way at the health care center. She's their first volunteer, but now hopes she isn't alone. "It's more than something you do in your spare time. Maybe it's part of your duty of being an American."