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

“That’s the coolest part—the chance to meet people you may not otherwise ever meet.” —Cheryl Stodolka

Cheryl Stodolka - Minneapolis—Field Impact and Change Management

Cheryl and her husband, Butch, have two children and one grandson. They attend Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan, Minnesota. Cheryl is a member of the Minneapolis Corporate Center Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. She received her Volunteer Excellence Award in the Employees category and donated her grant to Person to Person and to the Family Resource Center at Mount Calvary.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering?
A. While I had previously volunteered through my church, my volunteerism really got a jump-start when I got involved with the Minneapolis Corporate Center Chapter. I started on the chapter leadership board, where I have served for the past four years.   Through the chapter I became aware of many opportunities that were available for volunteering.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering with Thrivent Financial?
A. I wasn’t familiar with the chapter system and what it was about. As a Thrivent Financial employee, I thought it was a good opportunity for me to see first hand what we do and what being a fraternal benefit society is all about. Plus, even though I’ve been with the organization for 34 years, I thought it would be an opportunity to meet some new people.

Q. Why do you volunteer with your Thrivent chapter?
A. For me, it’s really easy and it’s fun. A lot of the activities we plan are during the day, so it’s easy to participate. Some of the things I’ve participated in include helping to coordinate the kids coat drive the last four years for Person to Person, an organization providing support to low-income families; helping assemble birthday bags for Cheerful Givers, an agency that distributes birthday gifts to children through area food shelves; and participating in Feed My Starving children through both work and my church.

Q. What’s the most heart-warming activity you’ve been a part of?
A. Last year my husband and I got involved in Thrivent Family Day at the Minnesota Zoo. We were assigned at the admissions table to greet the military families who got in to the zoo that day for free. We had the chance to talk to these folks, thank them for their service, and see their appreciation for Thrivent Financial honoring them in this way.

Q. What’s the most unique fund-raising activity you’ve been a part of?
A. I would have to say it’s the coat drive that I help coordinate. These aren’t used coats—they’re all brand-new. Kids in need of a winter coat go to Person to Person where a card is filled out with their name, size and favorite color. Thrivent employees or groups of employees interested in buying a coat take a card and buy it specifically for that child. That makes it really special. They receive a coat, hat and mittens. The Corporate Chapter provides supplemental funding for the project.

Q. What would you say to someone wanting to get involved with a Thrivent chapter?
A. It’s so easy. There are opportunities all the time to do something to make a difference. Thrivent Financial makes it super easy. And you meet people. That’s the coolest part—the chance to meet people you may not otherwise ever meet.

Q. What is your motivation for volunteering?
A. It just makes me feel good. It’s the right thing to do. It feels right.

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 think about these kids that are out there, homeless or on the verge of being homeless. We see a lot of it in inner city Minneapolis and even in the suburbs. People are just barely making ends meet. I would wish for them to have all the things they need—shelter, food and clothing.