Working Together Around the World 

Being the mother of three now adult children, I have had some not so proud moments and some very proud moments. All of you who have been parents of teenagers know exactly what I am talking about. But this week I was again reminded that I am a very lucky mom and 99.9% of my parenting moments have been full of joy and pride. I know, you are all wondering what this has to do with World Wide Volunteer Appreciation Day right? Well, I'm getting to that.

This week my middle child, Cammy who is a junior in college, received an email from a wonderful young woman named Madeline Fraser. Madeline is " heavily involved and passionate about education, specifically girls education in the developing world."  She spent one year living in northern India developing an art program at a school in Kiratpur in 2009 and ever since then she has been slowly developing and building a small non-profit organization called Million Daughters with a fellow Indian Women. Their goal is to put one million girls through school in the developing world. Currently they have about 70 girls enrolled in the program in India. They are trying to raise enough money to build an all-girls school in India, something that is pretty unheard of in a country dictated by male authority. However the fact of the matter is that if they can raise enough money they have the connections in India to make that truly happen.

Fabulous young woman right? What a huge challenge to take on.

Now I'll bet your wondering what this has to do with being a proud mother?  Well, the reason my daughter received the email is because she is starting her own non-profit to fund the construction of schools in developing countries. A mutual friend of theirs saw the connection and put them in touch with each other. Together these two women will change the world for many people. 2. Two. Just two volunteers with ideas and belief in their dreams and in humanity.  We always taught our children to give back but never imagined it on this level. Good thing there are people out there who do dream big and BELIEVE in the power of people.

So to all of you out in the world volunteering big, to all of you right here in our communities who give so much of yourselves, believing in the power of people, Thank You for LIVING UNITED, most of all THANK YOU for inspiring others to LIVE UNITED.

These are the people that have volunteered their time for United Way this Year.  
 

2011 Campaign Chair Persons

Kent Speight         Linda Thielbar

United Way Board of Directors

Gary Iocco        Keith Meyers

Deanna Voth     Lee Finholm

Greg Evans       Bob Bangtson

Jody Nemcek    Pam Gorman

Arne Skyberg    Dave Harms

Jan Graner        Nina Areneson

Jon MacRae      Rick Hassemer

Pete Willi          Carrie Heimer

Rich Bodensteiner

2011 Community Investment Volunteers

Bev Dietrich         Carrie Heimer

Deanna Voth       Julie Hatch

Lee Finholm        Mary Ann Preston

Susan Crocker     Dave Harms

Janie Farrar         Jody Nemcek

Linda Flanders     Marilyn Olson

Nina Arneson       Dan Shafland

Don Olson           Emma Onawa

Jill Eckblad          Lyndsay Nelson

Mary Eberlein      Michele Schultz

Rick Hassemer

Day of Action Volunteers

Emma Onawa      Xcel Energy

Melissa Juedes    Jennifer Lappegarrd
 

Chili Cook-off Volunteers

Sarah Jessen      RW High School SOAR

Mike McKay       Kevin Davison

Jeff Roth             Geoff Smith

Meg Walch         Liz Diggins

Imagination Library Volunteers

Natalie Littfin          

In office Volunteers

Hannah Johnson     Amber Czerwinski

St. Joe's Students  Cammy Nelson

Ingrid Pond             Kelsy Ford

Grady Nelson         Lyndsay Nelson

Kelsie Laapegaard  Josie Laapegaard

Charley Nelson       Jeff Roth 

Eli Hauschild          Malia Young

Packing for the Weekend

Red Wing High School Key Club

ProAct

Associated Bank

Red Wing Shoe Company

Sarah Kaiser

Mary Niehues

Mary Brady

Liz Kittleson 

Thanks to Everyone Everywhere who volunteers!

Working Together in Wabasha County

Speaking of MARVELOUS Volunteers

Last week our Packing for the Weekend Program ran into a snag. In all the commotion of Campaign 2011 and our Executive Director leaving us, we forgot November was a month with 5 Thursdays! We only ordered food for four Thursdays.  You might think that was a mistake that couldn't be fixed and if it was up to us in the office alone, you might be right.

Thankfully we are not alone. We put out a special call to our email list and asked for food. WOW did we get food! This picture was taken on Monday. Big mistake, the food that followed on Tuesday and Wednesday was equal to this. Then to put a star on top of this entire situation, Neela Mollgaard from WomenCents phoned to say they wanted to cover the cost of whatever we needed that had not been donated.  I know I say this very often, but I am continually overjoyed with the kindness and generosity of the people we know and the new people we meet.

Thanks to all of these wonderful people, backpacks went home full today. Because of you, Children will eat this weekend.

Wish List

Upcoming Events

Saturday, December 3rd

Purchase beautiful and affordable fair trade items hand crafted by artisans and farmers in developing regions. With each purchase, you help artisans maintain steady work and a sustainable income so they can provide for their families.

First Congregational United Church of Christ

220 W Main Street~Cannon Falls

9 a.m.  - 2 p.m.

Cannon Falls Community Blood Drive

Tuesday, December 6th

The Cannon Falls Community Blood Drive-sponsored by the Cannon Falls VFW Auxiliary will be held at St. Pius V Catholic Church~401 Colvill Street~downtown Cannon Falls. All Eligible donors are needed! 16 year olds eligible to donate with signed ARC Consent form. For appointments call Karen at 507-263-4526 between 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.Cannon Falls 

St. Pius V Catholic Church

401 W Colvill Street~Cannon Falls

1 - 7 p.m.

 Red Wing

Red Wing Singers - Christmas Concert

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