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Allison Spak February Volunteer of the Month

Posted on March 30, 2010 14:46

 

United Way & Volunteer Services Volunteer of the Month is Allison Spak. If you have been involved in some way with the Children’s Theatre by participating, volunteering or simply sitting back and watching the artists blossom you have seen the works of Allison Spak. Allison is dedicated to the children that are involved in theatre. “Watching the kids grow up on stage is what inspires me.” Allison said. “Mom’s will say I have sat through hours and hours of practice and they were on stage just a short time, but it was all worth it”.
 
Allison got involved in theatre as a child. Her mother did Children’s Theatre in New Mexico while she was growing up. Her family was always collecting items for backdrops or stage props, never throwing anything away. It could have come in handy for one of the plays someday.  Allison has two teenage children that help her in and with the shows.
 
When Allison started with Yankton Children’s Theatre Company she had a youth base of about 25 and now she can easily cast up to 110 youth with 150 auditions. She now receives help from the youth she started with. They come back to Yankton to help her. They know the hard work and responsibilities required in putting a show together. 
 
Spak is also involved in the Elks Easter Egg Hunt by gathering youth to help fill thousand of Easter Eggs to make hundreds of little children happy. Every June 14th, you can find Allison at the Elks surrounded by children in red, white, and blue. Allison helps the Elks meet their rule to celebrate Flag Day by teaching children about flag history and flag etiquette.  You can also find Allison with her Yankton Children’s Theatre Company youth at Riverboat days and putting in a tireless amount of extra hours in as Sound Director for The Academy of Dance and Light Manager for Lewis & Clark Theatre Company.
 
“Putting it all together and watching the enthusiasm and excitement from the kids, making it fun and entertaining is what brings an inspiring opening night every time”, Allison remarked. So whether it is your child, grandchild or your neighbors child, remember the person behind the scene, Allison Spak.
 
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2011 Volunteers of the Month
 

 
Myrtle Andersen has been volunteering for many years in our community and due to her extraordinary contributions has been named the United Way & Volunteer Services October Volunteer of the Month for her dedication to volunteerism.
           
As a retired eighth grade math teacher, Andersen enjoys spending time at Beadle Elementary School working with the first graders. “I get great joy in seeing the little first graders do their work and knowing they are progressing,” Andersen said. Some of her past students still recognize her and are thankful for her efforts. “Some of them are even through college!”
           
As well as volunteering at Beadle Elementary School, Andersen participates in the Sack Pack program. Sack Pack is a nonprofit organization which provides sacks of easy to prepare, nutritious food to be distributed to school age children who are at risk of hunger on the weekends.
            
 “The retired teachers volunteer to do the Sack Pack program but it's my job to organize things and get everyone there on Wednesdays,” Andersen said. “The program helps younger kids that do not have food over the weekend. We fill the sacks and take them to the schools where the kids can take them home.”
 
Andersen is also actively involved with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Retired Teachers Association and devotes time to the United Way & Volunteer Services and the Yankton Chamber of Commerce by helping with their mass mailings.
           
“Whenever these organizations need help they call me and I go to work. I help by mailing and filling envelopes for the Chamber meetings and I also work on the United Way mass mailings by putting things in envelopes whenever they get them ready to mail.”
           
According to Deb Overseth, RSVP Program Coordinator, “Myrtle has been a faithful and active volunteer for the last nine years.” For RSVP alone, Myrtle has put in over 2,245 hours of service to nonprofit organizations throughout Yankton. “She also serves on our RSVP Advisory Council, and is always willing and offering to participate in all activities,” says Overseth.
           
Andersen also volunteers at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital information desk as well as her church organization, Catholic Daughters of America.
           
“Being involved with these organizations led to one thing and then another,” Andersen said. “People ask for help with projects and I am more than willing to help them. I used to be an extraordinary minister at church and after asking to be relieved from that, I now take calls and count money on Mondays.”
           
Myrtle enjoys spending her free time volunteering and loves playing bridge. “I used to teach bridge,” Andersen said. “Now that I'm playing more, I have some of my students as partners at The Center.”
           
Helping people through volunteering is what Myrtle loves to do and she encourages others to become involved. “Anybody who has time to give to someone else at home or work should do it.”
 
Featured volunteer opportunites in education, income and health.
 

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Yankton Flood Emergency Assistance

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help those who may be affected by high water should contact the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce’s volunteer pool coordinator at 660-2033 or 665-3636.

The Yankton County Office of Emergency Management has established a web site that will act as a clearinghouse for flood preparation, response and volunteer information.  It’s at www.yanktonflood.com.

IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER:

  1. Email: paulinerhoades@msn.com
  2. Place in the subject of your email:   “I want to volunteer”
  3. Important! In the body of your email please include:
    1. Your name
    2. Phone or cell phone
    3. Full Address

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Way is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health: the building blocks for a good life.  But we can't do it alone.  We need the heads, hands and hearts of committed people like you to healp us tackle the problems facing our communites.
Each one of us has special talents.  Things we can to help.  Put your talents to work for your community.  Volunteer.

 

Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Give your best. We all have special talents. Things we can do to help. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children, or leading financial literacy classes for hard-working families, or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.
Give the gift of you. Volunteer.

 


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