Numbered Ping-Pong balls jump inside a glass box, as about 30 bowed heads check bingo cards carefully lined up on folding tables.

Behind the box, a man calls out letters and numbers.

“N-44, number N-four-four.”

The whir of the machine is suddenly drowned out by a white-haired man’s shout.

“Bingo!”

But doubt is cast by fellow players at the man’s table. False alarm. The game continues.

In another room in Heartland Senior Services (HSS), 506 South Walnut Ave., two ISU students work to make sure the senior citizens have an enjoyable time.

Juan Cadenillas, graduate student in journalism and mass communication, and Elizabeth Sergio, sophomore in political science, said they believe working with the elderly is a gratifying learning experience.

Sergio said being a volunteer at HSS helps her to better relate to people, which is part of being good at her major.

“Politics is all about dealing with people,” Sergio said.

Working at HSS is also helping Cadenillas advance in his area of study.

As an intern, Cadenillas creates press releases and keeps the HSS Web site up to date.

Cadenillas displayed pictures of The Songbirds, a musical group at HSS, and The Octagon Tappers, their group of tap dancers, along with other activities.

Working at HSS makes Cadenillas feel like he is helping people, he said.

“They say ‘thanks’ and give you a hug,” he said, gesturing to the pictures on the Web site. “People don’t do that at other places I’ve worked.”

ISU students and alumni are also involved in taking the senior citizens where they want to go.

Nathan Veen, a Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) driver, started his job just under two weeks ago.

Drivers take the senior citizens, or clients, anywhere from a doctor appointment to grocery shopping to activities at HSS, said Veen, senior in electrical engineering.

So far, Veen likes the job, he said.

“[Clients are] really nice people,” Veen said. “They know what’s going on; I have no idea what’s going on. They know about concerts, cooking meetings, and new actions the city is trying to put into place.”

Theresa Erlbacher, HIRTA’s transportation director at HSS, said she is glad to help the senior citizens get where they want to go.

“[If the senior citizens at HSS were not at HSS, they would be] sitting at home by themselves,” said Erlbacher, a 2001 ISU graduate in liberal studies.

Erlbacher said bringing the senior citizens to HSS gives many family members a break from being caregivers. The time spent away from home also allows the senior citizens a chance to socialize with their friends.

David Northwick, junior in history, said he has been able to learn about history firsthand from the senior citizens he works with.

“I talked to one man who was in charge of buying land for the interstate system when it was first built,” said Northwick, driver and dispatcher. “The drivers adopt them as grandparents and they adopt us as grandsons and granddaughters.”