Written by Samantha Stetzer, Winona Daily News, January 1, 2018 Homework and a game of Uno have become a common part of Bob Deter’s Tuesday afternoons. It’s not the big, travel-filled afternoons the financial executive for a global company has always done, but it’s certainly his way of paying the good fortune life has awarded him back, Deter said. So when he retired six years ago and ... read more
In the News
See what Live Well Winona and our partners are doing in our community.
Volunteer of the Month: Red Kettle Campaign is ‘such a simple way’ for local volunteers to make a big impact
Written by: Samantha Stetzer Winona Daily News Dec 3, 2017 For the first time, Robert Bergsrud stood in the doorway of Hy-Vee on Tuesday from the morning into the afternoon, methodically clanking a bell, his cane propped up in a cart. After an interruption from a reporter, a little girl asked him where the “dinging” was, to which Bergsrud replied with a swift ring of his bell, much to the ... read more
November Volunteer of the Month: Local Man Supports Winona Volunteer Services
Article written by Samantha Stetzer, Winona Daily News, November 6, 2017 Bob Leaf leaves his house at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and treks to Hy-Vee and Midtown Foods to bring a bread delivery to Winona Volunteer Services, ensuring those who use the volunteer and charity organization’s services have bread and bakery items. He also mows the organization’s lawn and picks weeds ... read more
September Volunteer of the Month: Encouraging others to volunteer
Samantha Stetzer, Winona Daily News It was a passion for education that led Susan Derks to tutoring elementary students more than 15 years ago, but it was an interest to do something different with that passion that led her to volunteering with the Adult Literacy Program. And she’s now the program’s most experienced volunteer. Run through the community education department ... read more
Born to help: For Beth Forkner Moe, volunteering is a way of life
Samantha Stetzer Winona Daily News, August 7, 2017 Volunteering isn’t just a passion for Beth Forkner Moe — it’s a lifestyle she was destined to have. Moe said she grew up in a home with a stay-at-home mother, who was always keeping busy by lending a helping hand and volunteering for the community. “I just saw volunteering as something you do,” Moe said. As the ... read more
For the love of community: July Volunteer of the Month finds purpose in serving
Written by: Samantha Stetzer, Daily News July 3, 2017 Diane Amundson might as well be synonymous with volunteer. The self-employed leadership and strategic team builder has been volunteering so much in her last 26 years of living in the Winona area, she said there are plenty of times she is asked to lend the community a hand. As the July Volunteer of the Month, it would be ... read more
June Volunteer of the Month – Bridging a Digital Divide
By: Samantha Stetzer - June 5, 2017 Daily News Chris Dahlke and Samantha TerBeest were noticing the same digital phenomenon in Winona. As the adult services librarian at the Winona Public Library, TerBeest said the library is a hub of digital resources for those who need it, but some do not understand what is all available to them. “At least every day, we get somebody who ... read more
Mayor’s bike ride kicking off Bike Month events
Glen Olson, Winona Daily News, May 4, 2017 Winona’s kicking their bike month off in style, with the inaugural Mayor’s Bike Ride. May is National Bike Month, encouraging people to get out and see where their two wheels can take them. In the past several weeks both the county and the city of Winona have passed resolutions supporting that effort. Over 40 people of all ages came ... read more
Volunteer of the Month: Mark Roeckers keeps up his passion for theater alive
Sara Tiradossi Daily News May 1, 2017 For Mark Roeckers, being involved with theater productions has been a life passion. Not only is Roeckers a math teacher at Cotter, but he also volunteers and directs the productions for the Home Community Options (HCO) in Winona. In high school and college, Roeckers said he enjoyed being part of his school’s theater productions, and when he started ... read more
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Winona woman finds many ways to give back
Kilat Fitzgerald, Winona Daily News, March 6, 2017 Jill Schmit guides people toward being the best they can be. Throughout her time in Winona, volunteering to help people has always been at the front of her mind. Initially from the Twin Cities, Schmit came to Winona State University to study social work. After graduating in 1984, she decided to remain in the community she had ... read more