Coordinator: Loretta Schlaak
Address:
PO Box 95
Waseca, MN 56093
Phone: 507-461-5709
Waseca County Forms
Volunteer Enrollment Form (PDF)
Community Needs
Contact would like another Waseca volunteer for weekly reassurance calling.
Waseca Historical Society will train volunteers to do data entry, index newspapers and research archives at the Bailey House.
The Meals on Wheels program needs another driver once per week for an hour to deliver meals locally.
If interested in the community needs, email Loretta Schlaak or call 507-461-5709.
Volunteer Spotlight
Although Janet was born in Des Moines, Iowa, she calls Waseca home because that is where she has spent most of her life raising a family, working and volunteering. “I have been so blessed with this community giving good things to my family; I just want to give back,” Janet said.
Janet loves people, especially young folks and kids. That might explain her working in the school district for 17 years as an ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) secretary and as the office manager in the Adult Basic Education program. Janet has always been active in volunteering for her church on committees and boards, teaching Sunday School, leading 4H groups and Scout troops, working with the hospital auxiliary and holding leadership positions in Eastern Star.
Running into former students and listening to what they are now doing makes Janet happy. “They are always so grateful,” she said. Janet corresponds monthly with a local 5th grader in the Pen Pal program. She spends 8-10 hours weekly on the phone with Contact reassurance calling. She also volunteers time for data entry for Contact weekly. The residents at Lake Shore Inn Nursing Home appreciate her smile and energy as she helps with activities weekly. In the past Janet has volunteered at the Waseca Neighborhood Service Center, the Waseca Area Learning Center and the Waseca County Fair. This year Janet became the Waseca County representative to the Region 9 Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging in Mankato.
Janet has one daughter in Minnesota and a son in Illinois along with 2 grandchildren in Illinois.
Community Impact
Volunteers are the backbone of the Waseca Senior Center
“The Waseca Area Senior Citizens Center provides health, nutrition, educational and recreational opportunities for the fastest growing segment of our population,” according to Lela Jones, director of the Waseca Area Senior Citizens Center. “Volunteers are the backbone of the Senior Center.”
Last year 15 RSVP volunteers have provided approximately 350 hours of volunteer service. Volunteers help with fundraisers, prepare mailings of newsletters and city bills, recycle greeting cards, providing legal and tax services, assist in the new consignment gift store, prepare and serve nutritious meals on-site and deliver for the Meals on Wheels daily, call bingo, repair the Center as needed, serve on the Board of Directors, and pop popcorn to be sold at high school football games.
Six volunteers do a variety of tasks in the new consignment gift shop attached to the Center at 105 3rd Ave. N.E. in Waseca. The store is open from 10 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
