Volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to provide a community service or support a nonprofit organization, but that’s not always easy to find.
“Nowadays, it takes some form of payment or donation to find ‘volunteers,’” DeForest Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heike Compe said. “We have been fortunate to have a crew of volunteers that sign up to help for the good of the cause and a sincere thank you is all that is needed. We are truly grateful to all of them for their assistance—it really does take a village.”
Many local nonprofits, businesses, and even sports teams help the Chamber put on events, she said.
The DeForest Area Community and Senior Center also has wonderful volunteers to help deliver and serve meals or take seniors to appointments, she added.
Those are just two of the local organizations that benefit from community members offering their time and talents.
The DeForest Times-Tribune interviewed four DeForest residents who volunteer ample hours and energy to make the community a better place to live.
Among them is 2022 Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year awardee Rob Allen, “a truly amazing DeForest resident and neighbor,” Heike said, and Keith Manke, “another fantastic volunteer who is everywhere.”
Also profiled is Amy Mikkelsen, president of the Friends of the DeForest Area Public Library, who puts in hundreds of hours each year organizing donated books and planning and hosting book sales, the proceeds of which support the library's programs.
We also spoke with Shawn Schroedl, who puts in time weekly at the Mission Nutrition food pantry.
“She’s pretty amazing,” said Mission Nutrition co-founder Joann Breggeman.
