Gabbie Kachena, a junior at Yankton High School, has many volunteer experiences to share. One of the reasons she enjoys relating her experiences was expressed this way, "Everyone needs help at some time. When you give, you really get! It's like opening a present a little at a time."

Kachena has opened many "presents" through her involvement with St. Benedict Church. In recent years, she has helped sell HyVee Cards between masses, brought forward auction items at the Catholic Gala and sold roses during the meal, played piano and sung in the youth choir, played the flute at Christmas and other special masses, worked at church bazaars and dinners, been an altar server since the 5th grade and is currently teaching religious education.

Time does not stand still for Kachena due to her participating in the Adopt a Grandparent program at Sr. James Nursing Home for the past five years. Seeing a need for lonely seniors that do not receive gifts, last year Gabbie created the "Snowflakes Are Special" program. The concept was the same as the various Angel Trees that are available throughout the community. She also has worked with the Gift Givers at Yankton High School. She has shared her time with the High School Student Council by working on car washes, helping with the children's activities at Riverboat Days and other fundraisers. .

When a neighborhood Boy Scout Troop needed help, she assisted in delivering hand-made Valentines to shut-ins. She has also collected food for the Food Pantry. Last year for Make A Difference Day she organized a meal-making day with some of her tennis friends and called it "Love is increased by Serving, In Tennis and in Life".

Gabbie Kachena started volunteering when her sister was helping with Safety Town and Gabbie followed along. Kachena said, "It was a lot of fun to help the little kids. As a student at Sacred Heart School, we were expected to give of our time for school fundraisers like the chili feed, making cookies, etc. I viewed it as more fun than work! It is a great way to learn about other people and share what I have with others and it doesn't cost much! When I delivered one of the Christmas gifts to an elderly man in Yankton, he cried and now I feel like I got the gift!"

Kachena has more ideas of how other issues can be addressed. Helping others, whether they are young or young in heart, Gabbie Kachena enjoys sharing her time and talents to make their day brighter and hopeful.