by Mary Siverson
Recent events in this area have brought attention to volunteerism and the need for communities to have large pools of volunteers ready to assist, whatever the challenge. During the 2011 Flood in Central North Dakota, volunteers played a major role in preparation, response, and on-going recovery activities. When the call came, volunteers stepped up. And the organization I currently lead as regional director stepped up, too. (more…)

If you have visited the Medcenter One Same Day Surgery Center, you may recognize Audrey Herman, or at least the sound of her voice. Her distinct voice and personality are a great combination that help make her patients comfortable. (more…)

by Deb Seminary

In Mary Tello-Pool’s basement are two file cabinets dedicated to every event she has worked on since the 1970s. “I can go back to a Holiday Home Walk from 1984, tell you what the theme was, who the chairs were, even what food we had,” she said. “When anyone needs to find out anything from the past, they say, ‘Call Mary and tell her to look it up’!” (more…)

Bryce Emineth, Nick Erickson, and Evan Gowen

Christmas has a way of sneaking up on you — even in February.

Last year, my son Evan, his two confirmation classmates and I went to Pride Manchester House for a service project. The three boys, Evan, Nick and Bryce, met at our church to prepare eight Valentines with gift cups of pencils and candy. We drove from the church toward the facility, a psychiatric residential treatment center, which that year housed eight boys. (more…)

Two of our most faithful volunteers, Joan Klemer and Breezy Kohls, often sell memberships at the Zoo.

Since its inception 50 years ago, the Dakota Zoo has relied heavily on volunteers in virtually all areas of operation. Many early supporters spent countless hours clearing brush and making the 90 acres of Zoo land habitable for the animals to come. Whether it was plumbing projects, fence building, painting, welding or a host of other specialty jobs, volunteers were one of the main driving forces that ultimately made the Zoo a success. (more…)