The next time you see a big, furry mascot walking around town, it might be Bob or Kathy Salm. The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program members never miss a chance to serve their community by dressing in costume for local causes. The Appleton couple is among more than 300 members of RSVP who volunteer throughout […]
The worst things in life often bring out the best in people. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005, just weeks after Bonnie Ebbesen retired, she looked for ways to help. “But doors kept getting closed,” she said. “They would say, ‘Just send money, we don’t have any place for you.’” She […]
By Jeff Zdrale “Cheryl, I’ve heard of rickshaws, but what the heck are trishaws?” That’s what I asked Cheryl Zadrazil at Fox Cities Greenways, Inc., and when I started to learn about the Cycling Without Age (CWA) program. She told me about trishaws. They’re pedal-assisted cargo bikes that propel a roofless cab seating one or […]
Lorna Hamilton believes folks need a reason to get up in the morning. For her, that reason is volunteering. The 87 year-old Menasha woman has been registering blood donors at The Community Blood Center for more than a decade. Laurie Kiffel, account manager in donor recruitment at The Community Blood Center, praises […]
Fox Valley Memory Project is a godsend, not only for folks experiencing memory loss, but for their family, care partners and friends. That’s because it operates and supports programs and services that improve their quality of life. Located at the Goodwill Community Campus at 1800 Appleton Road in Menasha, the Memory Project’s purpose […]
When Scott Cieslek was looking for volunteer opportunities three years ago, his wife and daughter agreed that he would be a good mentor. They were right. He was matched with a boy who was on the waiting list for the Outagamie County Mentoring Program and they have been getting together weekly ever since. The program, […]
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region and Best Friends of Neenah-Menasha merged on Jan. 1 to become one organization called Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Wisconsin. The newly combined youth mentoring agency, which is located at 1331 American Dr., Neenah, will serve more than 650 youth in Calumet, Outagamie, Waupaca […]
Visitors who tour Hearthstone Historic House Museum in December will feel like they are wandering into the old poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Rooms will be decorated with unique features of the season, along with aspects of Victorian yuletide traditions, including antique dolls and toys under the trees decorated with antique ornaments. Sugared and […]
Penny Svetlik volunteers every Monday morning at The Salvation Army-Fox Cities by assisting between 30 to 40 clients get their monthly allotment of groceries in the food pantry. She remembers one instance the first year she volunteered that brings tears to her eyes. “One older woman was just so painfully grateful and so timid about […]
The familiar “ding, ding, ding” of volunteer bell ringers will begin Nov. 15 for The Salvation Army-Fox Cities Red Kettle Campaign, and this year the organization is rolling out bell-ringing incentives for volunteers. Alli Oravec, volunteer coordinator, said there will be something special every day. “Monday is Music Monday, so if you are playing your […]