Sue Sodeman, RSVP Coordinator
Address:
42050 737th Ave
Saint James, MN 56081
Phone: 507-375-7225
Nicollet County Forms
Volunteer Enrollment Form (PDF)
Community Needs
Work through County and State Government to support quality of life for residents…
ST. PETER REGIONAL TREATMENT CENTER FORENSIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT (St. Peter)—Visit nursing home residents or join in special events, providing demonstrations or presentations…
Create a home to house a family…
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY (St. Peter)–Bring carpentry and painting skills to a team of persons building houses with and for families in need in the St. Peter Area.
Bring history to life….
TREATY SITE HISTORY CENTER (St. Peter)–Greet the many visitors to this historically significant site, provide guidance about and interpret the site, assist with archive research, or help maintain the historical center..
Share your time, experiences and companionship…
GRANDVIEW GOOD SAMARITAN (St. Peter)—Share stories about travel experiences, gardening demonstrations, or provide musical entertainment to residents. Spend time walking with residents as a Sidewalk Sidekick or escorting them to medical appointments. Or use customer service skills as a receptionist.
Support a local shopping tradition…
SECOND TIME AROUND THRIFT STORE (St. Peter)
Profits of this long-time St. Peter facility go to the Residents of the Benedictine Living Community of St Peter. Sales Agents and Sorters are needed two to four hours each week to manage the clothing and many other wonderful items that are donated.
Help others discover a wealth of local artistic talent …
ART CENTER OF ST. PETER (St. Peter)–Art Center Docents are needed to welcome and guide visitors and a Handy Person’s skills would help keep this gallery and creative arts center operating smoothly.
Bring mobility to others…
NICOLLET COUNTY VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (St. Peter)
Residents of Nicollet County who are over 60 years old need transportation to local senior service opportunities, events and short errands. Drivers are reimbursed by the County for mileage and expenses.
Support a variety of services for seniors…
ST. PETER SENIOR CENTER (St. Peter)
There’s always something going on at the Senior Center. Help with events, special clinics, newsletters, food distribution and much more.
GOOD SAMARITAN HOME CARE SOCIETY (St. Peter)
Provide office assistance to help maintain up to date records and managing communications regarding clients receiving in home nursing and supportive services.
For more information on these community needs, contact Sue Sodeman at 507-375-7225.
Community Partners
Blue Earth and Nicollet County Humane Society and RSVP Join Forces to Match-Ure Cat
This new innovative fostering program was developed recently to help bring companionship to RSVP Volunteers and senior cats. Following similar models in other parts of the country and nearby in Rice County, the goal is to find long term foster homes in Blue Earth, Nicollet and Le Sueur Counties for adult cats in residence at the Humane Society. It is a win-win opportunity for adult cats who are sometimes difficult to place and RSVP Volunteers who would like a furry companion but are concerned about costs and long term care.
Through the Match-Ure Cat Program, cats are placed with RSVP Volunteers who will provide them with love, companionship and a home. In exchange, the Riverside Regional Pet Shelter which administers the program furnishes food and litter as necessary and assumes the costs of veterinary visits and medical supplies. Because it is a foster care program, foster cat parents do not need to be concerned about the future of their cat if their life circumstances change and they are no longer able to care for their four footed friend. Volunteers for this program are needed.
Volunteer Spotlight
Mary Lou Thieman
The bright patterned squares flow into each other tied with colorful yarn and often a tiny stuffed animal is sewn to the corner. Rose and pinks, blues and greens, golds and browns, all pieced together in patterns that delight the eye and provide warmth to the user as well.
Mary has decided to retire from her RSVP volunteer job of 10 years making baby quilts for those in need. Sewing has been a long term interest for her, so when she retired from her work with Nicollet County Public Health and found she had some time and a large supply of fabric pieces on hand, she joined many other quilters as part of the newly organized RSVP ABC Quilter Program. Everyone quilted in their homes and then met together once each month to check the quilts and sew in “Made with Love and Care from RSVP” labels. She fondly remembers the many ladies she met through the program.
Month after month for over ten years Mary Lou has used her skill to transform bits of cloth into cozy quilts. Each quilt takes almost ten hours to complete. Over the years she has diligently been sewing away on her creations she has finished over 250 quilts spending over 2000 hours on this labor of love. Her quilts have been widely circulated to food shelves, through in home visiting programs, to nursing home residents, through Head Start to new parents, and to many families in emergency situations.
Mary has also worked in other volunteer positions in the St. Peter area: assisting with mailings for the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce, serving meals through Meals on Wheels; and working at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center Trading Post thrift store. She will continue to volunteer but will be giving her tired sewing machine a well earned rest.
Raised on a farm near Norseland, Mary has spent her life in the St. Peter area. She and her husband raised three sons and a daughter who have made their homes in Minneapolis and Florida. She looks forward to other new opportunities to volunteer in her home town area.
Thank you Mary for warming the hearts and souls of so many people over the years with your lovely quilts!
Community Impact
Building Bones and Changing Lives in Nicollet 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 Nicollet 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 Good Samaritan Society Home Care in St. Peter 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.
