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100-YEAR-OLD SID ROOY NAMED COUNTY’S VOLUNTEER-OF-THE-YEAR
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When missionary Sid Rooy moved to our Penney Retirement Community 25 years ago, his wife Mae had concerns over his ability to slow down. She had never known him to be anything but his Energizer Bunny self. Fortunately, those fears were quickly dispelled the day he wandered into the garage of fellow missionary Larry Hills (we told you Larry’s story a few issues ago). What caught Sid’s interest was the contraption Larry was putting together – some kind of a industrial grade three-wheeler with no pedals. When Larry explained the reason behind it, it didn’t take Sid long to sign on to his modest venture. You see, while Larry had seen people crawling in the dirt in Africa, Sid had witnessed the same thing in Nicaragua, so often due to the many land mines stepped on during and still after the war there. Thus by buying into Larry’s vision that day, Sid became a founding member of what was to become P.E.T. FLORIDA. Since then, Sid’s volunteering has by now spanned 25 years that has seen an output of about 17,000 handcyles. As he celebrates his 100th birthday in September, he can still be found working at his current assignment – painting more of them..
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When J.C. Penney’s dairy and Florida farming ventures were struggling in the late 1920s, he sold them to local businessman Paul Reinhold. That investment, combined with Reinhold’s other business holdings, contributed to his significant financial success in the following years. Like Penney, Reinhold and his wife Klare held deep commitments to their Christian faith, with a special calling to encourage and support organizations serving the people of Clay County. In 1954, Paul took that commitment a step further by forming the Paul & Klare Reinhold Foundation for the purpose of providing a legacy to continue such support beyond his lifetime. Ever since, his family has enthusiastically moved his vision forward. Today, one of the tangible expressions of support for non-profits takes place each spring at an awards breakfast titled “Celebrate Clay.’ At this event, typically about 30 organizations are honored with cash awards. As an organization, Pet Florida has been blessed with such an award many times over the years. But in addition to awards to organizations, there are special awards that go to individuals, and one of these is called………………
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Clay County Volunteer of the Year
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And this is where the two back stories come together. At the awards breakfast this April, the Reinhold Foundation’s 2026 award in this premier category went to our own Sid Rooy. The Reinhold family already had a special affinity for our Penney Retirement Community, going way back to the relationship between J.C. and Paui nearly 100 years ago. That bond was strengthened when P.E.T. FLORIDA came into being as the very type of organization the foundation exists to support and encourage. So when the MC at the beakfast event began to read the bio of this year’s winner (before disclosing his name), it became increasingly clear who was being described. And finally came that name – it was our own Sid Rooy. The packed house stood to its feet with a cheer as Sid made his way to the podium to receive the award. Later in the parking lot, Peggy Bryan, the Reinhold family member who headed judging for his category, personallycame to express her delight over Sid’s selection.
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SID'S NAME ADDED TO PAST WINNERS
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We sometimes use the term “feel good” to describe books and movies we like. That morning in April gave us a lot “feel goods”:
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- For our good and faithful brother Sid himself
- For his beloved P.E.T. (that was presented with a large check)
- And for the Reinhold family that continues to give back to its community through the many organizations they bless with recognition, encouragement training and financial rewards.
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