Deb Johnson-Schad, RSVP Coordinator
Address:
PO Box 402
Northfield, MN 55057
Phone: 507-649-1699
Le Sueur County Forms
Volunteer Enrollment Form (PDF)
Community Needs
For more information on these community needs, contact Deb Schad at 507-649-1699
Volunteer Spotlight
Agnes Milam
Being active is second nature to Agnes Milam, RSVP Volunteer at Minnesota Valley Health Care Center in Le Sueur. She is a constant presence in Gardenview Nursing Home where she works almost daily as an Activity Assistant. Agnes is also a member of the Hospital Auxiliary at Minnesota Valley. She participates as a Pen Pal through the Reasons to Write Program at Park Elementary School and she volunteers through her church at the local food shelf. She spends around 120 hours each month in volunteer service.
Before coming to Le Sueur about ten years ago to be near her son and his family and her daughter in Lakeville, Agnes traveled extensively. For fifteen years, she and her husband roamed in their motor home through every state as well as Mexico and Canada. Though she loved the time that she spent traveling, deciding to live in Le Sueur has given her a chance to be part of a community.
Hours spent adventuring have become hours spent volunteering. She has found her volunteer work to be enjoyable, rewarding and even therapeutic. She has met many people, each with their own story. Agnes tells one story of a lady that she met when she first came to live in Le Sueur. She was having coffee at a local restaurant when a woman asked her if she was new to the area. The woman helped her feel welcome. “What goes around, comes around” Agnes says. She now has the opportunity to give back the kindness that was extended to her those years ago because the woman is a resident at the nursing home where Agnes volunteers.
Agnes loves volunteering at Minnesota Valley Health Care Center. She feels the residents, staff and volunteers are like an extended family. Volunteering at the nursing home provides a perspective about how quickly lives can change. She also looks on her volunteer work as an educational opportunity for her two great grandchildren. At least once a week they travel with her to the nursing home where they visit with and assist residents.
Helping people is a way of life with Agnes. She hopes that someday caring people will extend to her the same kindness that she willingly gives to others today as a volunteer.
Community Impact
Building Bones and Changing Lives in Le Sueur County
The highly successful Bone Builders program that is bringing about a healthy change in the lives of its participants in other parts of Minnesota is coming to Le Sueur County as well as other Common Good RSVP counties. This osteoporosis prevention exercise program is free and is open to everyone. The program has been shown to build bone density through a carefully selected weight bearing exercise routine. Stressing bones through weight-bearing exercises is one of the best ways to help minimize the damage osteoporosis can cause. Bone Builders participants gradually build strength, improve balance and enhance energy and well-being as well. Common Good RSVP is partnering with Traditions Living Community in Waterville to begin a local Bone Builders program in the community during the upcoming summer months. RSVP Volunteers will be needed to make this program happen—from trainers to lead the exercise classes to outreach workers to promote the program and drivers to bring participants to the exercise class site. Please contact me if you are interested in participating in a Bone Builders Class or in volunteering to help with this program.
Community Partners
Preserving the History of Le Sueur County
To understand where you’re going, it’s often helpful to know where you’ve been. At least that’s the belief of the Le Sueur County Historical Society that has as its mission, the collection, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of Le Sueur County and how Le Sueur County’s history is related to the history of the State of Minnesota. Through a new partnership with RSVP, the Historical Society is in the process of identifying volunteer positions to provide assist at the many historic sites it operates. RSVP volunteers who are intrigued by the past will be able to find opportunities to help others understand the unique heritage of the county as portrayed preservation and interpretation of these historic sites. Volunteer assistance is being requested at sites in Le Center, Le Sueur, and Cleveland at the present time. There is an immediate need for a genealogy center assistant to help maintain archival clipping files at the genealogy center in Elysian. Other volunteer positions will be available soon.
