This article describes how San Marcos, California, developed a senior volunteer program in response to budget and staffing shortages and the need to increase fire station security. Discusses the program's implementation, including obstacles and successes. For its efforts, San Marcos received a 2004 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence. Reprinted with permission from Western City, the monthly magazine of the League of California Cities. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. For more information, visit www.westerncity.com.