MARS - When it comes to doing hands-on care for others, it's often women who roll up their sleeves.

But Dale Boyle of Butler is one exception. At 74, he could be sitting on his hands, but he's been a volunteer at LAS St. John Specialty Care Center for the past 3½ years.

Boyle, who admits he knows nothing about model airplanes, was that extra pair of hands needed by Don Fox recently as he built a model airplane at the center.

"When I was a kid, our model airplanes were made of gum-bands and toothpicks," he said with a laugh over the memory of many tiny and complex parts in the kit.

Fox, 82, and a resident of the Alzheimer's wing, said he has loved airplanes since he was "this big," motioning with his hands. He got his pilot's license as soon as he reached the "legal age" and owned a small airplane for 30 years."

Fox was also a radio controlled model airplane enthusiast and wanted to make and fly just one more. With Boyle's help, Fox's airplane has taken to air over the nursing home parking lot.

"I go where they need me," said Boyle, fresh from a shopping trip to Target with a male resident.

But Boyle just doesn't shop with the guys. "I go with women to shop. I'll help them buy make-up," he said. He estimates he spends 20 hours per week in and around the nursing facility on the retirement community's campus.

In his opinion, a lot of men think they can't do one-on-one tending, but he doubts that assumption. And he knows there are a lot of opportunities to give of yourself in ways suited to men's aptitudes.

Every Sunday afternoon he's on hand to get residents to and from church services. Since there are about 60 people who attend and most don't get there under their own steam, he does a lot of wheelchair wheeling from rooms to services and back.

During the week he volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"I take them to activities and outside to the habitat" specially designed for Alzheimer's patients, he said. "I play bingo and sit with them," adding that he plants flowers outside in spring and dons a Santa Claus suit in winter.

Boyle said he began going to LAS St. John when his wife was a resident of the Alzheimer's unit.

"I was here every day when she was here. After she was gone, I stayed and volunteered."

He credits the staff with providing good care for his wife while she was alive and being good to him as a perpetual visitor to the Alzheimer's wing for the two years she was a resident there.

"We have lots of volunteer opportunities," said volunteer coordinator Ruth Pfeiffer of the options available for potential volunteers. "They can visit with patients, read, talk and walk with them. There are escorts to therapy, recreation and chapel. We have a huge sewing department where we put labels on clothes and mend," said Pfeiffer, adding volunteers can also perform activities as simple as playing checkers with residents of the unit.

The Angel's Closet, a second-hand shop, and a gift shop also need volunteers.

"There is a family atmosphere here, a camaraderie," added Pfeiffer. "Volunteering here is very rewarding and all you have to have is a lot of love in your heart.

"Volunteers do have to undergo background checks and usually come to the facility about once a week, whenever it suits their needs and ours," said Pfeiffer.