Olla F. Moore has dedicated her time in retirement to welcoming visitors to Selma.

Moore, 67, worked as a quality control supervisor for Hanil E-Hwa before she retired in 2007. She was volunteeted at the welcome center since 2010.

She now volunteers on every weekday except for Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ‘She has been a volunteer at the current center near the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and back when the center was farther north on Broad Street.

“Just to be here and welcome people adds something to my everyday life and is therapeutic to me. It makes me feel good,” Moore said.

Moore said meeting people from all over the world makes her time at the center worthwhile.

“We have so many people to come here from the UK and many places who come wanting to know the history of Selma,” Moore said. “It makes my day.”

When she is not volunteering at the welcome center, Moore spends time with her husband James, their daughter, Chelsea, and grandchildren, Brandi and Kenneth.

Moore said over the years she has found the most pleasure in making sure people who visit Selma leave with a positive view of what her hometown has to offer.

“It’s great to be able to give my time to sell Selma. That’s what we do here. In doing that, I make the city look good as well as myself. I try to give as much as I can to the community,” Moore said.

Moore said when people visit the welcome center it is usually to find out more about Selma history and get information about the city.

“The center tells the story of the movement. I know the story. So, I don’t mind sharing it when people want to know about it,” Moore said.

Moore said the thousands of people she has met over the last six years have touched her.

“Passing the torch to younger people is what it is all about. If they don’t know where they come from, they won’t know where they are going.” Moore said.