Giving back
Eric Legvold: From bartender to COVID-19 responder, a lifelong giver
BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian
Legvold has worked for United Way for nearly three years. Since his start at the organization, he's tackled several projects including the Imagination Library and The Home Ignition Zone Program. MAZANA BOERBOOM mazana.boerboom@missoulian.com
“50 masks. Washable. (Call) Arlene Olson … if you need more,” the note said.
Following his new every-other day routine, Eric Legvold unlocked the padlock on the house-shaped box marked with the words “Donate Masks Here” in bold red text. Gathering up the bags and piles of donated masks, he discovered a note accompanying a donation.
They always needed more masks, so Legvold called the number and talked with Olson. Upon realizing she was at risk for contracting COVID-19, he promised to pick up the masks from her in a socially distanced way the next time she had some to donate.
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MISSOULA BUSINESS • SUMMER 2020
The next day Olson called Legvold back: She and her daughter had spent the entire day prior sewing 100 masks. Legvold is the director of impact at United Way of Missoula County. His job is to be the eyes, ears and hands in the Missoula community, said his boss and Chief Executive Officer at United Way of Missoula County Susan Hay Patrick.
Legvold is the type of person who would rather be on a dusty trail or lounging by an alpine lake than working an office job, Patrick said, but he comes to work every day with a smile and a work ethic unlike any other. “He’s a leader, and you can tell he’s a leader,” Patrick said about Legvold. “He has a very open presence. When you see him, he smiles readily. He listens.”
