A New Chapter in Service
Sunta Izzicupo
Before becoming a volunteer with Jewish Family Service LA, Sunta Izzicupo spent decades building a career in the television industry. She worked as an executive writer for Walt Disney Corporation, 20th Century Fox, Lorimar, Warner Bros., and CBS.
It was a career filled with memorable experiences and people. Ask Sunta about some of the coolest moments from her career, and she may tell you about meeting stars like Dolly Parton, who even shared a few tips with her about healthy aging and skin care.
Sunta is grateful for the career she built, that her son is doing well professionally, and, most of all, for her life. Now semi-retired, she has entered a new chapter, one that has given her an unexpected sense of purpose: helping others.
“I volunteer as a social worker assistant, and I find it gratifying because I help people. It gives me a real sense of agency and purpose,” she said.
Sunta first discovered JFSLA through senior exercise classes at the West Hollywood Comprehensive Service Center at Plummer Park. She quickly became involved in the JFSLA community, including JFSLA’s Arts, Wellness, and Engagement (AWE) program, which offers older adults a variety of fitness, arts, educational, and social opportunities. She eventually helped start “Chat and Chai,” a social group that gives older adults an opportunity to connect, talk, and spend time together through the AWE program.
Today, Sunta volunteers two mornings a week at the West Hollywood Comprehensive Service Center, assisting social workers and clients with a wide range of practical needs. She helps clients complete Medi-Cal and Medicare applications, search for affordable housing and Section 8 opportunities, and address issues involving wellness checks, utility services, and other resources.Some needs can be addressed in one visit, while more complicated issues may require additional appointments. Sunta may spend time contacting service agencies or utility companies on a client’s behalf, sometimes waiting on hold for extended periods to help resolve an issue.
“For some older adults, navigating applications, government programs, or service agencies can feel overwhelming,” said Sunta. “Having someone there to help them through the process can make an otherwise difficult task feel more manageable.”
When clients arrive, Sunta also helps create a welcoming environment. She answers the door and phone, offers clients water or tea, and reassures those who may be nervous about asking for help. For Sunta, that personal connection is just as important as getting the paperwork done. She has found that volunteering has given her that same sense of connection in her own life.
“I’m single, I live alone, and that can be isolating,” she shared. “You don’t always think about it because you’re out and about and doing your practical things in life. But volunteering gives me a very social environment, too.”
Volunteering has shown her the importance of having a place where she can stay engaged, meet people, and feel that she is contributing to something meaningful.
“I think that it gets harder as you get older, you know, when you leave behind your work and your children are grown,” she said. “Volunteering gives you that good sense of agency. I’ve learned that I can actually be of service, which, as I said, is quite gratifying, more than you would imagine.”
For anyone considering becoming a JFSLA volunteer, Sunta’s advice is simple.
“I would say, just do it. Get yourself over here. You will not be disappointed. You’ll get to do very interesting things, and you’ll get to work with fascinating people who have a breadth of experience and education. And the best thing is that you get to help people,” she said.
