Not many men of 21 years of age are focused on serving their community, but for Manhattan Beach resident Max Kelber, that’s exactly what he does.

 

Looking ahead, Max is planning on studying at El Camino College, but while he decides which career he wants to pursue, he exemplifies his selfless nature and volunteers for Beach Cities Health District's (BCHD) Center for Health & Fitness (CHF).

 

For the past three years, Max has committed an incredible amount of time to support CHF operations. Three times a week, he spends between two to three hours helping out at the front desk. He spends his volunteer shifts providing information to members, and helping those who come in for a tour of the facility.

 

He additionally assists with taking member’s temperatures and asking COVID-19 screening questions to help keep everyone entering CHF safe.

 

In terms of what Max enjoys the most, he explains, “I enjoy it all; picking one thing is just too hard!”

 

Over the years, Max has made many friends at CHF. Visitors and staff alike know Max by name and love his welcoming, caring personality. As Max explains, “CHF has such a nice atmosphere and I particularly enjoy talking with members of the community. If any newcomers are interested in volunteering, I would say that it is wonderful serving your community and helping to make everyone feel welcome by promoting inclusion and diversity.”

 

Bernadette Lewis, Member Services Manager at CHF said, “We love having Max here at CHF. He has become one of the members’ favorite volunteers. Max always tells me that he is the BOSS when he's here and to sit back and let him handle it...haha! I truly appreciate having Max around. He brings so much positive energy to our front desk, and he means so much to all of us here.”

 

When he’s not volunteering, Max loves surfing in Manhattan Beach. When he started out, he found it hard finding his balance and took the initiative to go to other beaches such as Malibu and Hermosa to focus on developing his skill. Now, he spends his spare time down at the beach with his friends. When he’s not at the beach, he’s enjoying Latin dance; something he hopes to do more of.