If you were to ask who the "go-to" guy was at the Yankton Area Senior Citizen's Center, the reply would be Ray Hersman! He has been volunteering there for the last six years, and is celebrated as an "extraordinary volunteer!"

Ray grew up in Tyndall, South Dakota, and has lived in Yankton since 1980. He worked for the food service at the Human Services Center for thirty-five years. After he retired, he still enjoyed visiting and keeping in touch with his former co-workers.

Ray has a hand in many of the activities at the Senior Center such as helping with the set up for card games on Monday nights, helping with the Pancake Breakfasts served on the third Sunday of every month, making dumplings every other month, and helping prepare and serve meals at other special events. You may have seen him at Bingo on Tuesday evenings setting up the tables, selling bingo merchandise, walking the floor, or supervising cleanup. Along with Ray's contributions to the Center, he gives a ride to his next door neighbor on Sunday morning's, substitutes for Meals on Wheels, and is helping at the Sacred Heart Parish Bazaar.

Ray says the most rewarding aspect of volunteering for him is being helpful to others and knowing that he is still useful. The Yankton Area Senior Citizens' agree that it would be tough to get by without Ray, and really appreciate all that he does. They claim that "without his efforts, the center would need a number of volunteers to complete the work he provides."

Article Written by Volunteer Erika Carr