Volunteerism

Locals participate in 'Many Hands for Haiti' mission trip (03/04/10)
Six local residents are determined to provide hope and encouragement to residents of a country devastated by an earthquake on Jan. 12. While this trip is the fifth for Christi Gabhart, it marks the second to Haiti for Karmen Brown and Dawn Vanden Berg. The March 3 - 12 journey is the first for fellow Spencer residents Paul Rekow, Heather Brown and Sharon Berkenpas as local mission volunteers. ...

Providing a safe haven (12/18/09)
People for Pets isn't only a refuge for the dogs and cats found sheltered there, it's also considered a safe, welcoming place by many of the volunteers and supporters who frequent it. ...

A home for the holidays (11/28/09)
Amber Quail has two families to be thankful for this holiday season. One includes her daughter, Aubrey, who playfully scooted along the floor of her new home on a Sunday afternoon. It also includes Amber's father, Steve. He brings tears of gratitude to his daughter's eyes whenever she thinks of all the work that went into the house at 12 Hillside Boulevard...

Hospice: 'There is help available' (11/14/09)
Ron Ricketts' cancer started in his lungs, but has metastasized to his brain and into his bones. He was told following a biopsy earlier this year, "There's nothing we can do to help, so you'd be better off just leaving it alone."

Spencer's Schooley among 'Great Places' winners (10/27/09)
Jim Schooley volunteers his time promoting the arts for a variety of reasons. Winning an award at a banquet in Des Moines isn't one of them, but it happened nonetheless. He was one of 19 groups or individuals from around the state to receive a merit award for volunteer work at the inaugural Iowa Great Places Awards and Recognition Banquet...

Nothwehr serving Denver youth, leading them to Christ (09/03/09)
Caleb Nothwehr may have majored in journalism at the University of Kansas, but he's found his calling as a mentor who shares good news. The Young Life staff member leads weekly programs at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver where messages about Jesus are shared at the end of each session in a language that the students can understand and relate to. ...

Terril home project taking shape (07/18/09)
A home repair and rebuilding ministry aimed at assisting lower-income Clay and Dickinson County families has officially taken off. The work currently being accomplished on a Terril home -- the first project house in need of major repairs approved by local Fuller Center for Housing (FCH) partner board members -- began occurring in May...

Cleaning the Little Sioux: Wal-Mart employees, volunteers sweep river for junk (05/30/09)
If you're going to plan a cleanup project, why not plan it on a beautiful day and include canoes and a river as two of your key tools. Starting from two different points, Wal-Mart employees from the Spencer and Storm Lake stores worked together to help cleanup one of northwest Iowa's main waterways. ...

Volunteer help, financial donations being sought for new clubhouse (05/22/09)
Just as the new clubhouse being built on the Spencer Municipal Golf Course nears fruition, the course's superintendent is requesting assistance in order to complete the project's finishing touches. Anticipating contractors will be done with their work on the clubhouse in early July, plans are for the building to open for business by the first part of August...

Royal mother, daughter change lives in Honduras (05/07/09)
They left with bags filled to the brim with goodies for others. Lynn and Courtney Cronk of Royal returned home with the clothes on their backs, a few souvenirs created by their Honduran hosts, grateful hearts and a desire to raise awareness about impoverished regions of the world and others inhabiting them who need help. The two women took part in the Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras' 10th mission trip to Honduras, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Their 12-day trip, which lasted from March 30 until April 10, included a traveling team consisting of 22 high school students from eight different school systems and 10 adult chaperones from five different states.

Habitat for Humanity, Lowe's challenge women builders (04/10/09)
In the days leading up to Mother's Day, construction crews of women volunteers, including recording artist Trisha Yearwood, will be pounding nails and raising walls at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 2-10. Lowe's and the Northwest Iowa Corridor Habitat for Humanity are looking for local women volunteers to work one day on the Milford Habitat construction site May 2...

Dr. Bill and Kathy Follows named 2009 Citizens of the Year (04/02/09)
At the core of any medical professional's life is a desire to help others. It's what guides them through years of study, long, sleepless nights, and the rigors of the work. For this year's recipients of the Citizen of the Year honor, that desire to help others has shaped their entire lives, both personal and professional. Often, that helping hand they reached out was accompanied by no notice, no fanfare, and certainly no desire to draw attention to their good deeds...

Briefs 3-14-09 (03/14/09)
A bird house workshop will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lost Island Nature Center, north of Ruthven. To build a wren house, just bring a hammer. Call (712) 837-4866 for more information. --- A bake sale will be held today at the Southpark Mall. The groups will be: "People to People Ambassador Program" for Devan McCord Fund Raiser and DreamTeam...

Briefs 3-13-09 (03/13/09)
A soup and pie fundraiser will be held from 5-8 p.m. tonight at DaySpring Assembly of God Church, 1410 W. 18th St., Spencer. Chef Dr. Darrel Forslund will be serving home-style chicken noodle soup, "27 Spice" chili, and an international selection: Mongolian hot pot soup. Many...

Briefs 3-12-09 (03/12/09)
Spencer City Councilman George Kruger will host a Ward 1 meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Spencer Public Library. Bob Fagen, Spencer's city manager, will be the featured guest speaker. --- Spencer Hospital will be holding classes for individuals considered to have "pre-diabetes" -- those with blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered a diabetic. ...

Join 'Friends of Spencer Public Library' (02/26/09)
Are you looking to contribute some time and/or money to a worthwhile cause? Joining the Friends of Spencer Public Library group may fill the bill for you. "The Friends group is very important to the library because it helps to spread the message about the library and helps with marketing for us," Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson said of the group. ...

Cherish Center volunteers making a difference (02/24/09)
Volunteers are key to the success of any community program, and that includes the building of Cherish Center in north Milford. Pictured above are just some of the people from Dickinson, Clay, Emmet, and Osceola counties who have been volunteering to do the sheetrocking of the 7,500 square feet building which will house the offices of Cherish Center and Thee Garage Sale. ...

Area search under way for 'Kids Against Hunger' volunteers (02/10/09)
Area volunteers are being sought to take part in a March 7 event that'll not only be fun, but is guaranteed to fill the heart. The service project anticipated to be filled with fellowship will have interested individuals and groups signing up to package meals for Kids Against Hunger...

Briefs 12/19/08 (12/19/08)
Please join us at a "Come-and-Go" reception to wish Kitty Conover the best in her retirement from Iowa Lakes Community College and to welcome Mary Mohni, chief academic officer and new campus administrator. The reception will be held from 2:30-4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19 at Iowa Lakes Community College at Gateway North in Spencer. At the request of the honorees, please no cards or gifts...

Holiday Adoption final drop off date Saturday (12/19/08)
The time is here! Ninety families are already on their way to a merrier Christmas, thanks to the generosity of Northwest Iowans. Now it's time to gather the gifts in anticipation of delivery by the Spencer Volunteer Firemen, UPS drivers and Spencer Rotary members...

Holiday Adoption first drop off date Saturday (12/12/08)
Northwest Iowa, you did it! All 90 families on the list for the Holiday Family Adoption program have been "adopted," and will have a happier holiday thanks to the generosity of the area's residents. Now it's time to gather the gifts in anticipation of delivery by the Spencer Volunteer Firemen, UPS drivers and Spencer Rotary members...

Fire Department encouraging high school students to volunteer (11/19/08)
Growing up in LeMars, Dave Schipper had an opportunity to explore his interest in fire fighting while still in high school as part of an auxiliary program through the local volunteer fire department. It stuck. In addition to serving as a member of Spencer's volunteer fire fighting force, Schipper is employed as a part of Iowa's Fire Marshal unit. Not only does he battle the blazes but he investigates the cause...

People for Pets receives donation to purchase building (09/26/08)
People for Pets, a non-profit animal shelter and pet adoption center in Spencer, has received a $125,000 donation to purchase the building they had been renting. The donation was made by Steve Pearson and Lori Thomas of Spirit Lake. The donation was given in memory of Steve's sister, Maribeth Pearson, who loved all animals...

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