Pal Power

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Virginia Willis, 72, a widowed, retired Social Security supervisor, saw her social circle shrink over the years as old friends died, and was bored with the aimless window shopping she sometimes fell into. Since signing up with Experience Corps last year, she has found a new sense of purpose in helping the teacher and kids in a first-grade class at Guilford Elementary School in Baltimore. She's also made a couple of close friends among her teammates. "We start out talking about the children in our classroom and end up talking about our families," she says. And as a bonus, walking the long hallway to her classroom has got her in better shape physically. She's lost a few pounds and no longer uses the cane she once needed--yet another testament to the health benefits of social interaction.