As you walk through the community rooms, offices, and shared spaces within United Way’s Community Impact Center on south Broadway Avenue, you will see the fruits of volunteer Paul Maynell’s efforts given to the new facility. All the technology; from computer networks, security cameras, to community room audio/visual technology are the result of Paul volunteering his time, expertise, and talents.
Because of his dedication to community, United Way & Volunteer Services of Greater Yankton was honored to present Paul Maynell with the January 2022 Volunteer of the Month Award.
Lauren Hanson, United Way Executive Director who nominated Maynell for this honor, shared, “Paul’s expertise has elevated our organization and the new United Way Community Impact Center in so many ways. Paul is an extremely knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer, always researching and learning all he can to ensure our technology is effective and efficient. We are blessed to have him as part of the United Way team.”
We asked Maynell to share more about his community volunteer efforts.
“I have lived here in the Greater Yankton area since December 2009. I became involved in volunteering in 1964 and Yankton in February 2010.”
I began volunteering in Yankton for The Center and then for United Way. These opportunities led to various non-profit organizations, primarily involving computer support. Some of these organizations were Yankton Area Arts, Yankton Concert Association, Southeast CASA, Parents as Teachers, National Field Archery Association, and Yankton Transit. Before moving to Yankton, my volunteering activities were twenty plus years providing computer support for the Asian Pacific Development Center, a support organization for newly arrived refugees from southeast Asia, beginning a donation program for a Vietnamese orphanage in Bien Hoa.
Since I am typically involved with individual projects, my volunteer hours have ranged from 150 to 600 hours per year. Volunteer work is enjoyable because I enjoy working with people and solving problems. In addition, these problems allow me to continue to learn in a field that I enjoy. My best volunteer experience I would have to say is my current project, United Way’s move to their new facility at 920 Broadway.
The most beneficial aspect of volunteering is that it keeps you active and learning about the needs of your community. When you volunteer, you stay connected with your community. I see volunteering as a form of exercise, sometimes physical but always as an exercise for the brain. Volunteering can have as many benefits for the volunteer as it does for the non-profit.”
Thank you, Paul for your extraordinary efforts! To learn more about local volunteer opportunities or to nominate a Volunteer of the Month, please visit www.yanktonunitedway.org/volunteer, email info@yanktonunitedway.org or call United Way of Greater Yankton at (605) 665-6766.
