If you recognize Sandra Givens, it might be from her years as a regional HR manager or perhaps from the cover of one of her nine published novels. Since 2023, however, our clients know her best as the friendly face behind the wheel.
A Journey of Resilience
After years of Bay Area living, Sandra moved to Sun Lakes in 1993 with her beloved husband, Dennis. They shared 20 wonderful years of marriage before Dennis passed away 15 years ago. At the time, Sandra was still immersed in her HR career, and the loss required a profound adjustment to single life. Thankfully, she found strength in a community of amazing girlfriends here in here in Sun Lakes who supported her through the transition.
In 2011, when her company requested a relocation to Atlanta, Sandra knew it was the right time to stay put and retire. This decision opened the door to a new creative life. She traded corporate reports for storytelling, publishing her first book, Running Horse Ranch, in 2018. To date, she has published nine books, including her latest, At Long Last, Love.
A Full-Circle Connection
Sandra’s journey with Neighbors Who Care is unique. Before becoming a volunteer, she was briefly a client following a medical procedure.
“I feared becoming a client would be complicated,” Sandra admits, “but I discovered it was so quick and easy to get the help I needed.”
That positive experience, combined with a neighbor’s recommendation, led her to join our volunteer team. Despite being a bit nervous at first, she jumped into our greatest area of need: transportation. Today, she finds immense reward in the gratitude of the clients she serves.
Finding the Joy
When she isn’t writing, volunteering for the HOA, or driving for NWC, Sandra is likely planning her next adventure. A prolific traveler, she has visited 22 countries—including a month-long trek through Africa. Whether traveling or serving her community, Sandra’s philosophy remains the same: “Look for the joy and find just a bit of it in each day.”
We are so grateful that Sandra shares some of that joy with our neighbors every week!
