ALPENA — Aptly called the Friendship Room, Alpena’s primary free meal provider offers a nutritious dinner in a social setting six days a week.
Connie’s
Connie’s Angels
But it also offers an opportunity for community members to volunteer, serve, and fellowship with patrons and each other.
Volunteers said the experience is both fun and rewarding.
“This is why I joined Kiwanis
Connie and Gary Stephan would like to thank all the volunteers who help support the Connie’s Angels team. Special Thanks to Julie & Mick, Sandy & Randy, Dale & Karen, Hilary, Gloria, Pat & Rick Sampier, Carol Barnhart, and Nick Stephan. The support that we receive during every fund raising event is so deeply appreciated!
Club,” said Kiwanis Club of Alpena President Rob Boynton, who was helping prepare food on Friday. Service groups often sign up for shifts at the Friendship Room.
“Basically, Kiwanis is about children,” Boynton explained, “Making the world a better place one kid at a time. So, this is more of a community thing, all ages, adults, but there are some kids who come through here, too. But … it’s an extension of what we do at Kiwanis. Just giving back to the community. Making this a better community to live in.”
Not only that, but it warms his heart.
“Giving back to people who are in need … it’s enjoyable,” Boynton
said. “It gives you an immediate rush when you meet people who need your help. You’d be surprised the different walks of life that come through here.”
Sandy Blumenthal has been volunteering at the Friendship Room for about 20 years.
“I knew that I could make some friends here, but I mostly wanted to be needed, and I wanted to help other people,” Blumenthal said. “I feel so happy to be able to do this.”
She often serves drinks during dinnertime and socializes with the patrons.
“I’ve gotten to know a lot of them by name,” Blumenthal said. “I love to listen to their stories.”
Her husband, Dave, started volunteering with her in recent years.
“He loves it. He loves working here,” Blumenthal said of her husband. “I don’t ever want to stop working here.”
Assistant Director Stacie Johnston is grateful for the volunteers and the generosity of the community that keeps the Friendship Room thriving.
“I can’t get through a day’s work without them,” Johnston said of the volunteers. “I also really love the relationship among volunteers.”
She said she hears them chatting about exchanging books and plants.
“They become friends and rely on each other,” said Johnston, who
has been at the Friendship Room for 13 years.
“Our other huge focus is the community’s generosity,” Johnston said, adding that the schools, the local air base, and caterers donate food regularly.
“It’s pretty amazing to put out a whole meal for 60 people a day without having to shop,” Johnston said.
“We don’t seem to ever be lacking for a particular food,” Blumenthal added. “We’re always wellequipped to make a meal. And these meals here are so good. Stacie is an excellent cook.”
Johnston added that the social aspect of the Friendship Room is very important, as well.
“It sometimes is the only com-
munication that a single person has in a day,” she said. “I’ve heard it described as a mental health service.”
Meals are available to anyone in the community that needs them from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at St. Bernard’s Friendship Room, 322 W. Chisholm St. On Sundays, meals are provided through a separate Sunday Supper program at Trinity Episcopal Church.
“Beginning in the fall of 1988, the faith community of St. Bernard, recognizing the need to provide a place of welcome and support to the people of Alpena, opened the doors of the Friendship Room,” a description on the All Saints Cath-
olic Parish website explains. “It is more than a simple soup kitchen where one can receive food for the body. It is a warm, welcoming environment of friendship where all are welcome at the table to be nourished in both body and soul. Director Randy MacAuley and his staff and volunteers serve about 60 people each day.
If you are interested in donating to the mission, send donations to Friendship Room, P.O. Box 736 Alpena, Michigan, 49707. Make checks payable to All Saints of Alpena with the Friendship Room in the memo line. To reach the Friendship Room, call 989-3548018.
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 ~Volunteer Week - 3
News Photos by Darby Hinkley Left: Kiwanis Club of Alpena President Rob Boynton takes a quick break from prepping food at the Friendship Room on Friday. Right: Volunteer Ernie Muszynski washes a bucket at the Friendship Room on Friday.ALPENA — Kids can make just as big a difference in their community as adults, and the Youth Volunteer Corps
of Alpena is the perfect example. Through the Youth Volunteer Corps, youth 11 to 18 years old donate many hours to help in myriad ways in the Alpena area, and, without them, many local events and initiatives may find themselves shorthanded.
The program is a service of the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena. In 2015, the local group was named a Gold Level Youth Volunteer Corps Affiliate and was one of only nine throughout the U.S. and Canada. The local youth service program offers vol-
Alpena Community College would like to thank the dedicated individuals who have voluntarily given their time and resources to improve the quality of life in Northeast Michigan. Your caring efforts give us pride in our community and hope for a bright tomorrow. A special thank you goes out to the following groups:
• 70th Anniversary Committee
• Academic Advisory Committees
• ACC Board of Trustees
• ACC Foundation Board of Trustees
• ACC Foundation Scramble for Scholarships Volunteers
• ACC Gardeners
• Community Education Volunteer Instructors
• Science Olympiad Volunteers
unteer opportunities for more than 100 teens who serve nearly 5,000 volunteer hours every year
The primary goals of the Volunteer Corps are to engage youth in service projects that are challenging, rewarding, and educational, serve the unmet needs of the community and its residents, promote among youth a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity of their community, and promote a lifetime ethic of service among youth.
Alicia Hawley, director of the Youth Volunteer Corps at the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena, said the boys and girls are dedicated and always willing to lend a hand when needed. She said engaging in volunteerism now almost ensures the kids will continue to do so into adulthood.
“They do it to help their community and be with their friends,” Hawley said. “It’s our goal to create lifelong volunteer skills and start a passion for them. You see the members bloom into wanting to help everyone whenever they can.”
Skyler Wininger, 17, has been in the Volunteer Corps for six years. He said that, since then, he has logged about 650 volunteer hours. Wininger said he donates his time because of the love he has for the community and the people in it.
“I enjoy going out and doing things
and then seeing the smiles on people’s faces is incredible for the little things that I do can make people’s days or weeks,” he said. “I’ve gotten a few letters and postcards thanking me, and it brings a smile to my face, too.”
Hawley said one of the favorite places the kids like to donate their time is the Huron Humane Society. She said they love connecting with the animals and assisting the staff with chores that need to get done.
Aeris Snyder, 13, said most of the volunteer work is not hard and actually fun. She said being around her friends who volunteer is a bonus and they often hang out together after the volunteer work is finished.
“I love going to the animal shelter, because I love animals, and I like playing games with the seniors,” Snyder said. “I can’t wait for that one to come back up.”
Rachelle Fleck, 13, has been volunteering for a little more than a year. She said she also loves going to the shelter to play with the animals and just helping in any way she can.
“I just want to make my community a better place,” Fleck said.
Fleck, Wininger, and Snyder say they are likely to continue to offer their help to others for many years and also encourage others to pitch in and help, too.
“Volunteering really puts my time to good use,” Wininger said. “I probably would waste a lot of my time if I didn’t volunteer.” Hawley said this year’s goal is to accumulate 8,000 volunteer hours among 150 members.
Alpena High’s robotics team 5505’s success, while mostly reliant on the specialized skills of the 33 students that compose it, is largely built on our foundation of committed volunteers. With over thirty years of combined experience and hundreds of hours committed, our hardworking mentors have guided 33 students through the intense experience of FIRST robotics. Because of this commitment, students have been granted opportunities to learn, practice, and compete at the highest level of student engineering. Membership with 5505 doesn’t just mean competing at competition; it also means volunteering, both in and out of school. Every hour engaged in robotics is an unpaid hour, and the team’s agenda often includes volunteering around town. You may have seen robotics students wrapping gifts at Rusty Petunias, or cleaning up Alpena’s beaches and alleyways. We’ve also volunteered behind the scenes, setting up for book sales and food pantries. A large part of 5505’s mission is to be “more than robots”... that is, more than just the engineering and competition. 5505 is synonymous with the Alpena community, and because of that community’s gracious support over the years, our students now face their toughest battle and greatest opportunity yet: the World Championship.
It is right now that 5505 needs support from the community to pursue their international ambitions. Registering and traveling to Houston for the World Championship will cost upwards of $40,000, after taking into account the team’s increase from 9 members to 33. The experience of the World Championship alone is worth the cost, much less the chance to take home one of Alpena High’s first world championship titles. Our most recent fundraising efforts include a Gofundme, which is linked to the Team 5505 Facebook page, and our sale of discount cards, which feature discounts for various downtown businesses. These cards cost $25 each and are available for purchase downtown.
In a world where athletics often seize the spotlight, FIRST robotics has slowly been working its way to prominence in high schools all across the nation…and 5505 has found itself at the cutting edge of it all. Alpena’s team has earned a state-wide reputation, a reputation of being a robotics teamto-be-reckoned-with, backed by its top-notch engineering and team spirit. This hard work has led 5505 to a greatly competitive season and a shot at an international title. This opportunity does not come often, and it is now that we need the support to take it.
Find out more at the Team 5505 Facebook Page.
Te Alpena Volunteer Center would like to say thank you to the dedicated individuals who have voluntarily given their time and resources to improve the quality of life in Northeast Michigan. Your caring eforts give us pride in our community and hope for a bright tomorrow.
A special thank you goes out to the following groups:
The United Way of Northeast Michigan/Alpena Volunteer Center would like to say thank you to the dedicated individuals who have voluntarily given their time and resources to improve the quality of life in Northeast Michigan. Your caring eforts give us pride in our community and hope for a bright tomorrow. A special thank you goes out to the following groups:
• Gear Up Volunteers and Meijer
• Summer Stock Up Volunteers: AAACU, Wolverine SCU, HPCU, Nicolet and MyMichigan
• Stuff the Bus Volunteers: Dean Transportation and Walgreens
• United Way Board Members: Terry King, Alison Jakubcin, Lyn Kowalewsky, LIndsey Klein, Scott Reynolds, Ed Klimczak, Dan O’Connor, Matt Poli, Kim Schultz, Matt Seguin, Jessica Luther, Jen Rossi, Steve Wright, Chelsea Meeder, Adam Poll
• Campaign Chairs: Claire & Tanner Kostelic
• Christmas Wish List Helpers/ Donors: WATZ, The Alpena News, True North Radio, and WBKB TV and AMA/ESD
• Dolly Parton Imagination Library Volunteers and registration locations
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact the United Way of Northeast Michigan 108 Water Street, Alpena MI 49707 989-354-2221
www.unitedwaynwnemi.org
Are you a youth looking for an opportunity to make a difference in your community? Look no further!
The Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Alpena hosts a great program called Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC). YVC is open to all youth ages 11-18 who are looking for a chance to volunteer locally through service learning in a team-based setting.In YVC you will gain lifelong skills and build strong friendships while helping those around you. Volunteer hours can be transferred into high school credits and used on college applications and scholarships. Summer registration is avai able online and will begin June 12th, 2023. Join us while we finish up the school year or jump
on board when summer starts! Let’s build a strong generation of youth who are empowered to continue volunteering to positively change the world around us.
Our Mission
We engage youth in team-based service experiences that bui d life and work skills whi e inspiring a lifetime ethic of service.
People who want to volunteer their time have many opportunities to choose from. Volunteer efforts can be the more rewarding when individuals choose causes that have profound meaning to them. For some, this may mean helping animals, championing research to cure a particular disease or helping to provide services for disadvantaged youth.
Environmental stewards likely want to get involved with nonprofit groups that focus on conservation. Climate change and the impact of human activity on the planet concerns people in all corners of the globe. Many people feel that the time has come to prioritize protecting the planet. Consider some of these facts, courtesy of Eco-Friendly Habits:
• One hundred acres of rainforests are cut down every day.
• Beef production is one of the biggest causes of deforestation.
• About five million tons of oil produced in the world end up in oceans every year.
• Plastics kill more than one million sea animals annually.
Environmental volunteering, which refers to work undertaken to benefit the natural environment, may be the right opportunity for those looking to get involved. Here are some volunteering efforts and groups that champion environmental causes.
Amigos is a program that operates in Costa Rica, Colorado and Ecuador. Various projects help preserve biodiversity, explore sustainable farming practices and educate people about the importance of biodiversity.
Many countries employ volunteer fire brigades to handle wildfires. This type of volunteerism often involves training and activity in the field, so it requires a significant dedication of time and effort.
Various organizations coordinate regional beach clean-up efforts. Worldpackers, Clean Ocean
You make a difference every day! We are friends helping friends touched by Cancer. Friends Together - 105 Prentiss St., Alpena, 356-3231
Action and others rely on volunteers to help sweep trash from beaches.
Individuals who are teachers or specialists in certain areas of ecology may want to share their knowledge with others. They may be able to volunteer at the
elementary, high school or even college level and educate young people about various environmental topics.
Environmental volunteerism offers many opportunities to ecoconscious men, women and children who want to use their free time to protect the planet.
Volunteering doesn’t have to be something you “make time for” just keeping with environment issues makes you a volunteer!
volunteer opportunity, make a list of activities that you enjoy. This may help guide volunteer choices. For example, if you like hiking, you may volunteer to clean up a local park.
• Assess your skill levels. Is there something you are particularly adept at doing? For example, if you are a certified public accountant, you may be able to volunteer by mentoring young accounting students, or doing taxes or bookkeeping tasks for the elderly or less fortunate.
• Think about commitment level. Figure out how much time you can spend volunteering. Maybe you only have the weekends or a few hours in the evenings? Understanding how much free time you have can help you choose opportunities that fit within these parameters.
• Research potential organizations. Not all nonprofit groups are created equal. Utilize resources such as CreativeVolunteer that vet charitable groups to determine if they are trustworthy.
Data from Volunteer Hub indicates that people who volunteer improve their health by strengthening their bodies, improving their moods and reducing stress. Volunteerism also produces additional benefits, including boosting one’s positive perception to others. A study from CareerBuilder found 60 percent of hiring managers see volunteerism as a valuable asset when making recruitment decisions. Furthermore, human resources executives attest that contributing
to a nonprofit can improve leadership skills. By understanding the value behind volunteer work — for the people or organization on the receiving end as well as the volunteer — more individuals may decide to donate their time and services. However, finding the right volunteer opportunity may take some trial and error. The following are some tips for finding the right fit.
• Consider skills and interests. Before choosing a
• Define your goals. Have goals in mind when selecting opportunities. Defining a goal can help you maintain the motivation to volunteer and see a project through to completion.
• Start small. Wade into a volunteer opportunity slowly to see if it is the right fit. This may include volunteering one day a week or month. Increase the time you spend volunteering once you’ve found the right place for you.
Volunteering can bring joy to a person’s life, especially when individuals find an inspiring opportunity.
A passion for volunteering is commendable. Some individuals are so excited about the prospects of giving back that they may want to recruit more people to help. Such individuals may find that their place of employment is a great place to spearhead volunteer recruitment efforts.
Companies are diverse, but they also tend to attract likeminded individuals, which can make it easier to recruit potential volunteers. Business owners or human resources personnel looking to strengthen relationships among employees and give back to their communities can consider beginning volun-
teer programs at work. Here are some tips to begin this journey.
Involve leadership
It’s important to get the backing and approval of company leaders before starting a volunteer group. Since you may be using company resources and infringing on some company time, make sure that higherups are supportive. They also may be able to let organizers know whether a certain cause is complementary to the company mission or if it infringes on their mission. For example, a company that produces plastic products may not mesh with volunteer groups that have negative things to say about plastic products.
Choose a cause to support
While national nonprofits are worthy of support, employees may be more excited about partnering with local initiatives. Human resource departments or the employees who are starting volunteer programs at work can poll workers on which causes to stand behind. For example, a company that produces outdoor recreation clothing and equipment might want to support local efforts that focus on conservation in nearby parks. If a company has a strong stance on education, gear volunteerism around providing supplies for students or improving technological resources in schools.
Reach out to employees and spell out the program’s mission during your recruitment efforts.
This may be a task that the human resources department can help with. If the company has a department that organizes employee engagement activities, then that group would be a valuable resource as well.
It’s also important to think about where volunteers may fit in. Assigning jobs and figuring out how many volunteers and man hours will be required to complete tasks can provide a greater sense of the scope of the venture.
It’s best to have ground rules about how much of the employer-supported volunteer work will occur after hours. Some companies may be amenable to having a certain pockets of time taken from the work day — such as establishing Early Dismissal Fridays for volunteers. Employees can base their participation on how it will affect their schedules.
Establishing a volunteer program at work can be a great way to get involved and build strong relationships within the community.
Giving back to one’s community can provide a sense of purpose and improve an individual’s overall well-being.
MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF OUR MISSION! THANK YOU FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS!
FEATURING A FEW FACES OF THE MANY BESSER MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE!
DeLynn Medina
Chris Christopherson
Tuffy and Bonnie Cross
Pauline Buchner
Judy Dawley
Matt McCormack
Sharon Engstrom
Claudia Chapman
Gloria Weaver