Speaking of Service- Words from members who received a 2008 Volunteer Excellence Award.

“It 's not about us; it 's about helping someone else.” —Cheryl Bartel

Donald Bartel Family - North Branch, Michigan

Don and Cheryl Bartel and their children, Sondra, Donny, Dena and Mary, attend New Life in Christ Lutheran Church in North Branch, Michigan. They are members of the Lapeer County Chapter in the Michigan Region of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. They were honored with the Volunteer Excellence Award in the Family category and donated their grant to Starts-Kids and to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lapeer County.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering?
A. My parents always helped other people. We had elderly relatives, so as a family we would go to the nursing home to visit. For me, it was just something you did. We were involved in activities at church. My husband always helped his parents and family, but since we’ve been together, he’s been exposed to a lot more volunteer opportunities. I’m also a social worker, so I see the need. Also, with our daughter, Mary’s health concerns, we’re at the hospital and we see the need.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering with Thrivent Financial?
A. I volunteered to be on the chapter board after AAL and Lutheran Brotherhood merged. We have the most awesome chapter and the most awesome region. But while we’ve been on the giving end with volunteering, we’ve also been on the receiving end. Our church formed a team and did a fund-raiser to get Mary a special bed that can be angled appropriately when her shunt isn’t draining properly. But it looks like a normal bed, so she can be a normal kid.

With all the events that our chapter does, there’s always an aspect the kids can be involved in, too. When you do that, the kids feel a part of it. The kids can come and present what the grants are. They make the presentations to the board. It’s their project. We don’t have a lot of money, but we can give our time.

Family is very important to us, so if we can’t do it as a family, we can’t do it. It’s always been wherever we went, they went. You don’t get sitters for triplets or a special needs child. The kids have grown up with Thrivent Financial.

Q. Why do you volunteer with your Thrivent chapter?
A. It changes people’s lives one little step at a time. Plus we have built some strong ties with people. When Mary was in the hospital, we received lots of letters and calls. Our Thrivent Financial family supported her and us.

Q. What’s the most heart-warming activity you’ve been a part of?
A. We had done a project where we made teddy bears and scrapbooks for children in the hospital. We saw a little boy going into surgery and gave him a teddy bear to hold on to. He gave it to mom to hold on to in case he didn’t make.

But then there’s also the project where we did food baskets—collecting food and delivering the baskets. And we built a ramp for a man who never thought he’d get out of the house. I could tell stories about them all. There’s so many of them.

It’s not about us; it’s about helping someone else. I was raised to help other people. That’s what Christ did—He taught us to help. If I can sell my kids on anything, it’s that. You help others. They like doing it. And I know what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with. We did a playground here. Mary couldn’t exert a lot, so they gave her a checklist and a clipboard. To her it was the coolest job. If Mary can get out there and do it, any of us can.

Q. What’s the most unique fund-raising activity you’ve been a part of?
A. It would have to be our lunchbox social. Everyone makes a meal and you auction them off. You design your boxes. Sometimes the kids are the auctioneers. There’s no set price, but they’ll raise it. I didn’t know what was in my box—it was two pieces of bread and a bottle of water. It cost $38! It’s a neat event.

Q. What would you say to someone wanting to get involved with a Thrivent chapter?
A. I’d tell them to try it. Go in with an attitude of how can I make a difference. Don’t go in with the idea that it’s a job. What can I give that can make a difference? Something so little can make a huge difference. And if we’re doing it, maybe other people will join in, too.

Q. What is your motivation for volunteering?
A. We want to make a difference.

Q. If the sky was the limit, and neither time nor money stood in the way, what would you like to see accomplished as a result of volunteer efforts?
A. I would like to make a difference so that no one’s hungry, no one’s hurting and everyone has Christ in their life. And it’s not in that order. It’s the Great Commission. That’s our basis of our Thrivent chapter. When we look at projects, we make sure those areas are addressed.