Amazing Interns

Crystal, Sonny, Raashid, Davina, Chelsey, Katherine, Mandi, Jessica, Molly, Dana, Sarah, Alison, Cindy, Lindsay, Holly, Amber, Laura, Briana, Cheryl, Kate, Anne, Marie, Quinn, Stacie, Erin, Deanna, Gaonyia, Tara, Denise, Kelly ….

I cannot begin to name all the tremendous young people who have interned with United Way throughout the time I have been fortunate to work here.  Over 125 interns have added to the quality and level of community impact of United Way since we opened our doors in St. Cloud in 1967.

I hear from some who have gone on to become social workers, teachers of the English language, researchers, fund development professionals, child care advocates, lawyers, United Way directors, volunteer coordinators, hospice coordinators, multicultural program coordinators, police officers, the list goes on….

One thing I know is that the very practical, on the ground experience they gain through their internship is a real asset.  It helps them identify their abilities, what challenges their values, build their skills and meet a broad range of people from throughout the community.  They meet CEOs of companies and people who have arrived this year from a refugee camp in Kenya.  They meet 3 year olds excited about getting Imagination Library books and retirees who volunteer at our office.  And they meet hundreds of volunteers and staff who work with non profits that our community could not live without.

What do they do? Author weekly volunteer opportunities columns that are published in the Times and emailed to hundreds of local people, staff outreach displays, research community needs and trends, develop and update resource listings so people can find services in the community, coordinate Llama Llama Read-A-Rama activities, create flyers for events, interview community volunteers and people helped through United Way supported services, share fresh ideas and perspectives, the list goes on …

Hats off to all these people.  They gain much in return but  they can never be thanked enough for all they do for our community.   

We got to know each other when we talked about our volunteering

I am a member of the Central MN Noon Optimist Club.  Today, I asked for time to have a conversation about volunteering.  I did this selfishly because I thought it might be a good way to get to know each other better.  I figured we all share a common value of wanting to help others.

I asked a few key questions and the conversation and connections started tor roll. 

We talked about volunteering we did as children/teens, who we remembered and how it influenced us.  A new member spoke about being asked to help residents in wheelchairs get back to their rooms after her church choir sang.  She said it was really scarey but she dealt with that fear.  A few members shared they never volunteered as a child – it was just not part of the culture of their family but fortunately they now volunteer helping with raffles to raise money for youth programs and coach t-ball for their son’s team.  It is all good – whatever we do …

According to several studies, adults who began volunteering as youth are twice as likely to volunteer as those who did not volunteer when they were younger.  Family volunteering has a lifelong influence.  Learning deepens when we physically act on what we are learning.

We talked about if we had ever been helped by a volunteer?  Interesting question because sometimes we see ourselves as the one helping others – it can be tough to receive help.  It is a reminder we are not truly in control of so many factors in our lives.  We need to open ourselves up to being helped – it opens the doors for others to learn and gain that sense of awe when they are able to be the giver. 

We developed a laundry list of things that we rely on everyday that would cease to exist if volunteers disappeared: churches, service organizations, democracy, volunteers in schools, hospitals, humane shelters, community theatre, the list goes on ….

Two more topics popped up …

We talked about volunteering we do now or have done recently and why we continue?

Page 2

One woman shared how she was at a national conference and attendees all participated in refurbishing homes and creating a playground.  Another said that a few years ago his wife volunteered him to be a co-leader of a canoe trip with 13 and 14 year olds in the Boundary Waters.  He has done it now for many years and learned his love of canoeing and deepened his concern for children through that intense experience.

Then we talked about our passions for the future … One person, who recently retired from years as a child care provider, said that she eventually wants to return to working with young children.

We got to know each other a little better by talking about what we do with our time – more precious than anything else we have to offer this world.

If you know of someone who is trying to figure out how they can volunteer, encourage them to visit United Way of Central Minnesota’s website: www.unitedwayhelps.org.  Explore the searchable database of volunteer opportunities or call United Way’s Community Volunteer Coordinator.  

Your United Way Gift in Action

Forty three United Way volunteers on 6 different teams recently met with all the programs funded by United Way of Central Minnesota. 

It was a moving experience to hear one story after another from people whose lives have been changed forever because of the generosity of United Way donors.

Here are a few …

A woman, widowed at a young age with two young children, got help for dealing with her own deep grief.  She then decided to pay it forward.  She has been a Life Transitions volunteer for 15 years and serves as a support group facilitator helping others who have lost people they love.  She turned her pain into positive action.

An Iraq war veteran is now a Peer Mentor through Independent Lifestyles, facilitating support groups for veterans and for their families.  We can never understand what he faced in his recovery from burns and broken bones from a bomb blast.  But … we can see his commitment and passion put to work helping other veterans and the people closest to them.

A mom shared the experience of supporting her 19 year old daughter in her decision to give her infant son up for adoption.  She spoke of the support she, her daughter and other family members received as they struggled through this decision.  Pregnancy Counseling Program of Catholic Charities provided the ongoing listening ear, information and non-judgmental attitude.  This child is now in a loving home and because of an open adoption will still be connected with the birth family.

These are only three of the stories.  United Way funds 40 unique programs.  Imagine this impact multiplied in people’s lives throughout local communities. 

Kinder Olympics!

This Saturday event back in February was so cool!  480 children and adults came for a weekend morning outing that cost only $1 per person.  Pretty great deal.

United Way of Central Minnesota was one of the sponsors of this event that was organized by the City of St. Cloud Recreation Program.  Marci Sussenguth from the City took the lead and did an outstanding job.

At Whitney Center in the big gym, there were inflatables, little basketball hoops, skipping games, crawl through tunnels, the list goes on… In another room there was story time, coloring, resource information for families and snack time.

I helped at the check in table.  Kids were so excited to get in the gym – some parents had to hold them back.  We heard many parents say, when they were leaving … how about doing this a few times in the winter so we can all get out of the apartment or house and have some time to run off our energy?

United Way chose to support this type of event specifically because it was in the winter and because many families live in tight quarters.  It feels good to get out and run and move and bounce. 

We hope to continue to see free and low cost events like this for families with young children flourish.  It is positive family time and there is nothing better than that!

People Who Inspire

Mary Beth Moline taught my daughter’s Girl Scout troop about Braille and wrote out each of their names on a Braille card.  She worked for years at Fingerhut.  She was the first person who greeted you at the main door as you walked in.  Once, years ago, she rode with me to Alexandria and spoke to a group called The Telephone Pioneers.  These are volunteers who helped throughout the community.  She has volunteered with United Way and volunteers at St. Cloud Hospital.  Beth always tells me she is glad to see me when we run into each other.  Beth has been blind since birth but she sees more than many of us.

John Wertz is a retired teacher from St. Cloud Area Schools.  He serves as a SCORE volunteer, a United Way Community Investment Team volunteer, is active in Create CommUNITY efforts and has served on the Y board of directors. John has used a wheelchair as a mode of transportation for a good share of his life.  He may not stand up when his name is called but he always speaks out for others from his depth of experience and understanding of the need to seize life’s opportunities.

Maryan Ahmed is a woman from Somalia.  She lives with her family in the St. Cloud area.  She is a Cultural navigator for St. Cloud Area School District at Madison Elementary, a great mom and an active community volunteer.  She helps other Somali community members as they are working to understand how to build their skills, gain employment and address their family’s needs.  Maryan is a volunteer serving on United Way’s Success By 6 Partnership Team.  She believes in the need for a good education for all children, starting at birth.  She and her daughters have helped with Kids Against Hunger projects and she and her husband have help with interpreting and translation.  She is one of the brightest and kindest people I know.  We are fortunate to have her and her family as members of our community.

Tired & Inspired

Last night I told the story of a little 2 year old boy who taught me how to say “thank you” in sign language.  I was talking with one of the couples who attended the Progressive Dinner event to raise funds for Imagination Library.  That little boy’s Mom had said she loved the Imagination Library book program but there was a big problem with it…. So I asked her to tell me more. She said … I have to read the book over and over and over and over again the day we get it in the mail.  I chuckled … that is a good problem to have.

So what was this Progressive Dinner all about?

Well from my end of things last night .. it was washing dishes and setting out desserts at the home of Barb and Rollie Anderson.  It was cleaning up the floor after a couple of food spills and a quick petting of their family dog when I stepped outside to cool off.

It was also about a ton of wonderful volunteers … food preparers, host homes, planning committee members, donors of food and beverages and desserts.

Everyone who attended kept saying things like:

-        “The food at the home I was at was tremendous” (foods at the 8 different homes in St. Cloud were from a wide range of cultures – Italian, Czech, Indian, the list goes on …

-       “I had no idea that many local children get the books, I am amazed” (11,633 young children in our area received books last year)

-       “How else can I help?” (Spread the word and keep supporting United Way and this program)

This Progressive Dinner was the second annual fund raising event for United Way’s Imagination Library program and it was a great success… more people are now aware of the program and supporting it financially.  Homes in St. Cloud and Sartell opened up to help raise funds.

It was a success because people care deeply about your youngest children and their future and because everyone has their own way of being able to help and make a difference.  Thank you to every person involved!

Keep Life Simple

-       Read a book to a child in your world

-       Look up at the stars, pause a moment, and feel the awe

-       Laugh out loud

-       Get your hands dirty in the soil and sweat from physical activity

-       Find your passion for helping in the community and act on it.