Ms Bowen, 59, said the idea of making herself available for "adoption" had been brewing for a long time. She has plenty of love and time to share, but no-one to share it with.

"Since my mother died five years ago, I feel sort of lost and lonely," Ms Bowen said.

"I go to church down at the mall and I have great friends there, but there must be old people who want someone to come and have a yak, or to do their shopping, and I am sure that I am not alone.

"They might be a single oldie or couples around the Wollongong area, where I can just pop in with a cake and have a cuppa."

Ms Bowen does not have internet access, so she can't join online site, Adopt-A-Pensioner. She doesn't have a car either, so that rules out Meals on Wheels. She already volunteers through her church to visit elderly people in nursing homes, but it seems that's not enough.

"It's more what I want to give to people, I don't want anything back, I would just like to be able to help," Ms Bowen said.

"I was brought up to really care about people, but many people don't think about anyone else, and I would just love to be out there cheering up people.

"It also makes you feel good in the heart that you have helped a bit."

Reverend Gordon Bradbery, who has known Ms Bowen for five years, said she was a genuine, good person, with a big heart.

"There are lots of people who volunteer and they do it in all sorts of ways," Rev Bradbery said.

"I think there are people who are just looking for opportunities to mix with others as well.

"Unless you have got a lot of money, you can't afford to go to too many places these days and a lot of places are geared to younger people, so for seniors there is a bit of a gap there, I think."

If you are interested in "adopting" Ms Bowen, call the Mercury on 4221 2206.