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
In the News
See what Live Well Winona and our partners are doing in our community.
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
Film festival recruits volunteers for local organizations
There was more to the festival than films. Along with 81 films, the 12th running of the Frozen River Film Festival featured a volunteer fair that gave a variety of vendors and organizations to connect with a variety of like-minded filmgoers. Program director Isaac Sammis, said, “A lot of the community is really interested and engaged and they want to come out and participate and ... read more
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH – ‘Important to make a change’: Winona high-school student volunteers to change lives
Written by: Chuck Miller, Winona Daily News Payton Borchardt, a 16-year-old student, is committed to making a big change outside of her classroom. She wants to impact the whole community through her words, actions and engagement as a volunteer. A sophomore at Winona Senior High School, Borchardt, the February Volunteer of the Month, keeps herself busy as a member of the ... read more
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Goodview woman finds ‘full heart’ through service
Written by: Samantha Stetzer, Daily News January 2, 2017 Name a volunteer opportunity in the Winona area, and Heidi Evenson has probably done it. In fact, her daughter Axia often jokes that her mother’s demise will probably come from accepting poisonous candy from a stranger — because she just cannot say no. But that’s what the January Volunteer of the Month is known for, ... read more