500 valentines? Where there’s a will, there’s a way

by Carolyn Bertsch

What would you say if you were asked to make 500 valentines and had less than three weeks to do it?

For Lisa Vouk, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Vouk is a powerhouse when it comes to volunteering.

Originally from Butte, Mont., Vouk moved to St. Stephen 24 years ago to pursue her dream job as a buyer for Herberger’s. While working at the former Herberger’s in St. Cloud, Vouk had the opportunity to get involved with regular monthly events to support local non-profits. Leading by example, the Herberger’s executives encouraged all employees to “give until it hurts a little.”

“They made it fun and easy to give back and although it was expected that we participate, it never felt like that,” Vouk said. “I wanted to be part of something bigger.”

Drawing from a like core value of Gerousity at IntelliCONNECT, where she has been employed since 2008, Vouk spearheaded a valentines card-making project to support Catholic Charities’ Meals-on-Wheels program.

“I thought it would be fun to make Valentine’s Day cards to go with the meal delivery. Valentine’s Day can be sad if you are alone or shut in, so I took the idea to my team and they all agreed it would be fun to do.” The group of five made 100 of them over lunch one day at their office.

But, when Vouk reached out to Catholic Charities, she found the card numbers were far greater than her small team could handle alone. She reached out to some former Herberger’s colleagues, who responded by making 110 cards, and her friend Carolyn Bertsch, who runs an online community group called Positive Vibes Sartell. Bertsch reached out to Positive Vibes members, the St. Joseph Women of Today and the St. Joseph Y2K Lions Club, and these groups joined forces to make hundreds more cards on a Sunday afternoon in February using space donated by Megan Voss at the Evergreen Village Mobile Home Community in Sartell. Together, 540 handmade cards were made, which Vouk delivered to Catholic Charities. Bright messages of love and positivity reached every Meals on Wheels recipient, all because one woman had an idea and the drive to make it happen. The ideas come from everywhere.

Bunnies

Three years ago, while cleaning out her sewing room, Vouk came across many colorful six-inch wide fabric scraps. While shopping earlier in the day, she had seen some cute stuffed fabric bunnies and thought, “I could make those!” She began cutting, sewing and stuffing them using material from an old couch. By the time she was finished, she had made 30 bunnies.

Later that week, she attended a fundraiser for Anna Marie’s Alliance. She sat beside a woman who told her about some Easter baskets she was putting together for all of the 30 children in the shelter. Vouk knew this was where her bunnies were supposed to go and immediately offered them.

The next year, Vouk was chatting with friend Sue Sovada of St. Cloud and learned she was making Easter baskets for Domus House. The two decided to meet at Vouk’s home to sew bunnies together using more of her colorful fabric scraps and stuffing from an old couch, dubbed “Ellie’s Couch” named after Sue’s daughter, Ellie, who tragically died in a car accident when she was 13 years old. The couch had been given to the Vouks from the Sovada family many years prior and the daughters of both families often played together on it.

Volunteering runs in family

Vouk credits her giving heart to her upbringing. Her father, Dan, owned a meat market and would discreetly help out any family he heard might be struggling. Her mother, Louise, a talented cook, often prepared meals to support families who were experiencing illness or grief. As a family, Vouk and her parents and siblings often worked together to remove snow, mow lawns, clean homes, check in and bring food to numerous elderly neighbors who had no family members of their own nearby. They called them their “adopted grandparents.”

Vouk met her husband, Frank, a retired firefighter, just six months after moving to Central Minnesota. They were married six years later and have two daughters. Frank volunteers regularly and is involved with the St. Stephen Sportsmen Club, Stearns County Pioneer Club and the City of St. Cloud Fire Department Honor Guard.

The Vouks’ spirit of volunteerism has also been passed on to their children. As young girls, daughters Morgan, 24, and Lauren, 22, packaged food for Kids Fighting Hunger, tied blankets for CentraCare and rang bells for the Salvation Army. While they were in high school, the whole family helped build a playground for Holdingford schools. Now, as young adults, they have raised money for YMCA, tied blankets for Project Linus and written cards to victims of domestic violence. Vouk is certain they will continue their volunteer efforts well into their adult lives.

Upcoming projects

Vouk is drawn to projects that focus on helping the elderly, children and women succeed.

“My Dad always told me I could do anything I set my mind to, and never to think I couldn’t do something just because I was a girl,” she said. “I think more girls and women need a male role model to encourage them like that.”

Current projects include making bookmarks that may be used for events such as the United Way Llama Llama Read a Rama, Imagination Library Progressive Dinner and the Friends of the Library Store in the St Cloud Library. Vouk is also helping to fundraise for St. Stephen Fire Chief Matt Love, who is competing in Dancing with our Stars to raise money for the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation. The raised funds will go to the education and elevation of women in police, fire and EMT careers.

Vouk points to both growing up in an environment where her parents were always very giving of their time and being fortunate enough to have employers who have encouraged generosity as the driving force in her volunteerism.

“I get an extreme amount of joy out of giving to others,” she said. “I love the look on someone’s face when you gift them just the right thing, especially if it’s unexpected.”

How to get involved

Vouk points to the United Way as a great place to start for anyone wanting to get involved in their community.

“They partner with so many of the local non-profits,” she said, “know what the needs are in the community, and have volunteer opportunities on their website all the time.”

Vouk also recommends contacting local churches, school districts, hospitals and service organizations like the Lions Club, Rotary Club, American Legion, Sportsmen Club and Boys and Girls Scouts.

Lessons, staying positive

Vouk tries to stay positive and make the projects fun for herself and others so they will consider doing them again.

“There are always challenges, there are time constraints, there are people who say things like ‘why are you doing this, or you can’t make this happen, or it’s too big a project,’” she said. “Some of those are true, but I’d rather try and get close than not try and do nothing.”

Vouk has learned a lot through her many years of volunteering. She has toured facilities and seen first-hand where the needs of the community are.

“I’ve learned there is always something to be thankful for,” she said, “that no matter how things are going, there is always someone else who is in a tough spot, and you can do something about it.”