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

“I enjoy giving and doing for people. That’s just the way I am. ” —Marie Waltermire

Marie Waltermire - Rockwood, Pennsylvania

Marie and her husband, Ben, have five children and 10 grandchildren. They attend Messiah Lutheran Church in New Centerville, Pennsylvania. Marie is a member of the Somerset County Chapter in the Pennsylvania Region of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. She received her Volunteer Excellence Award in the Retired category and donated her grant to Camp Sequanota and to the New Centerville & Rural Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

Following is an excerpt from an interview with Marie:

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering?
A. I’ve always enjoyed working with people and helping people. You just do it. I volunteered at the Camp Sequanota work day, getting the camp ready for the campers in the spring. I always volunteered at and made pies for the Farmer’s and Thresher’s Jubilee, done by the fire department. I make two dozen pies, and we take care of one of the ticket booths. I’ve always volunteered in church as lay reader, with Sunday school and with funeral dinners. I’m currently president of the church council.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering with Thrivent Financial?
A.Many years ago, I was involved with both Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans. When it became Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, I continued to enjoy doing things for people who needed help, people who needed positive reinforcement. Sometimes when people have problems, they are down and out. It’s nice to help and uplift them.

Q. Why do you volunteer with your Thrivent chapter?
A. I’ve paid into Thrivent Financial, and Thrivent Financial keeps giving back. We’re able to do so much for many people in our community because of Thrivent Financial. It’s a wonderful feeling to do all this, but we couldn’t do all this if Thrivent Financial didn’t give us funds. We’ve done 93 projects. I don’t know of any other group that gives as much as Thrivent Financial does.

Q. What’s the most heart-warming activity you’ve been a part of?
A. We were able to go to Costa Rica with Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, and we’ve been to Biloxi twice.  We spent a week in Costa Rica last fall and Mexico in July and all we heard people say is “thank you.” It was 90 degrees and when we were done at the end of the day, we were tired. But it was a good tired. We had a feeling of accomplishment. It’s something that you get involved in that is like a magnet. You have so much fun doing it, and it’s so rewarding. The people have so little, and they appreciate all the little things.

Q. What’s the most unique fund-raising activity you’ve been a part of?
A. We did a service project where we planted a half acre of potatoes. We had about 30-35 people plant, and then last fall we had about 70 volunteers to dig them up. The crop produced about 5,600 pounds of potatoes. We gave them to the eight food pantries in Somerset County. We were also blessed with some regional money from Thrivent Financial so we gave every food pantry 17 cases of food. People were just overwhelmed. They couldn’t believe any group would do so much for people. We planted again this year, so in the fall we’ll be picking again and giving to the food pantry. What’s so great about this project is it includes youth and adults. We have 4-Hers, Boy Scouts, confirmation groups, Girl Scouts. We’ve made Thrivent Financial known in Somerset County because of some of the things we’ve done.

Q. What would you say to someone wanting to get involved with a Thrivent chapter?
A. Go for it! You will have a wonderful feeling.

Q. What is your motivation for volunteering?
A. It’s just part of me; it’s just who I am. You’re helping someone who is less fortunate. I enjoy giving and doing for people. That’s just the way I am.

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’d like to see the people who have nothing to have homes and food—just to have the basic little things we all take for granted. And to have health. Just to have the things they need to survive much better than they are. When you look around you, even here in the states, we have children and people who have nothing. If I had all the money that the millionaires have, I certainly wouldn’t keep it. I would give to children and people who have nothing. All they need is a home to live in, food and health care. And education is so important.