Bechtold named February Volunteer of the Month

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

Darlene Bechtold, a foster grandparent at Kennedy Community School, was chosen as the February Volunteer of the Month for the St. Cloud Area School District 742.

Fondly called “Grandma Darlene” by many, Bechtold volunteers as a fourth-grade helper in Shelley Fischer’s classroom. She has worked with Fischer for 10 years. The first eight years, she worked in Fischer’s kindergarten room and this is their second year together in fourth grade.

“It’s difficult to list the duties Darlene performs with students because the list would be too long,” Fischer said.  “She does the traditional things volunteers do at school and so much more. The most important thing she does is to make sure everyone in our class feels cared for and appreciated. Not only does she do this for the current students in our class, she goes out of her way to seek out past students or any staff member she knows who may need an extra hug or kind word that day.”

Bechtold said she is an overall helper in the classroom. Some things she does throughout her day include helping students with reading and math skills, lending a listening ear when needed, offering words of encouragement and more.

“The volunteering has been very rewarding for me,” Bechtold said. “Over the years, I have met many remarkable teachers and staff members who have accepted me as a volunteer and as a friend to help and mentor students of all ages.”

Kennedy Principal Laurie Putnam said Bechtold worked in her daughter’s kindergarten class when she attended Kennedy years ago.

“Her kindness, patience and warmth are still inspiring and supporting students today,” Putnam said. “We are so grateful for Grandma Darlene’s work.”

Some students from Fischer’s fourth-grade class commented why they thought Grandma Darlene was nominated.

“She smiles a lot and makes you feel better about your day,” Ethen E. said.

“She is always there when you need her,” Grant C. said.  “Even if she is sad, she still makes time to give me a hug.”

“She is nice and kind, but she is still firm,” Hannah F. said.  “She wants us to learn and have a good life.”

“She is always there for you when you need a grandma, like when you are struggling with something,” Travis P. said.

“She helps fourth-graders stay focused so they can learn more,” Paige S. said.

Fischer said Bechtold encourages students to do their best.

“She has a special knack for showing kids how much she cares while at the same time letting them know she has high expectations for them to do their personal best and carry themselves in a way that would make her proud,” Fischer said.

Putnam said Bechtold was nominated through the district Volunteer Services Department which reviews nominations and selects and recognizes one volunteer each month.

“Kennedy has amazing volunteers,” Putnam said. “All of our volunteers are incredible. Our school community is so blessed by the spirit of volunteerism our families and larger St. Joseph community bring to our staff and students.”

Community Education Coordinator Sonia Dickrell said the person who nominated Bechtold chose to remain anonymous.

Bechtold’s nomination stated: “Children just love her. She is always smiling and giving hugs. She has kind words for everyone. She is always in a good mood and an asset to the Kennedy School system. It’s an honor to know her.”

“She is a really fantastic volunteer and I am grateful for the opportunity to spotlight her and the District 742 Volunteer Program,” Dickrell said.

Anyone who is familiar with the work of the district’s volunteers can nominate someone to be recognized as Volunteer of the Month. Once each month, nominations are reviewed by Volunteer Services and one recipient is chosen.

Dickrell said they do their best to showcase the variety of volunteers and programs they support across the district when choosing the recipient.

Bechtold began volunteering at Kennedy as part of the Catholic Charities Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent Program in 2006. Since then, she has served more than 6,500 hours to help students.

Emily Chaphalkar, area supervisor for the Catholic Charities Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent program, said the program is grateful for Bechtold’s service.

“Darlene embodies the best qualities we see in the volunteers in our program,” Chaphalkar said. “Her patience, kindness and respect for the children and staff at Kennedy shine through in all she does.”

Becthold said she has been fortunate to volunteer with another foster grandparent, Betty Lansing, most of her years at Kennedy. Lansing has volunteered for nine years in the kindergarten area at Kennedy.

Bechtold said Lansing, and now her daughter, have always transported Bechtold to and from school each day. She has appreciated the rides and also being able to get into a warm car during cold weather.

“Grandma Betty Lansing has so much energy and is really valued by the teachers and staff she encounters each day while helping with student needs,” Bechtold said.

Bechtold, 76, has lived in the St. Joseph area most of her life. She and her husband, Herb, have been married for 56 years. They are the parents of four adult sons – Brian, Bruce, Brad and Brent and four daughters-in-law. They have nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Before volunteering as a foster grandparent, Bechtold worked as a daycare provider for many years and also worked for AccuServe Inc.

Bechtold said she feels she has gained much through her volunteering and would like to encourage others to volunteer.

She and Putnam both said Kennedy could use more volunteers.

“I feel volunteering has helped keep me healthier because it makes me feel worthwhile,” Bechtold said. “There is such a need in the classroom. Teachers can be overwhelmed with the large class sizes, and I am grateful for any little bit I can do to help the students and teachers.”

Foster grandparents fill a need of older adults interacting with children in schools, early-education programs, day-treatment programs, daycares, social-service agencies and more where they use their experience, time and skills to help children.

To qualify as a foster grandparent, people age 55 and older complete an application and go through an interview process. They also need to be healthy enough to perform the volunteer duties. Once that process is completed, a site that needs a foster grandparent is matched with the applicant’s skills. The foster grandparent then goes through an orientation and is placed at a site.

Foster grandparents receive an hourly tax-free stipend of $2.65 an hour, in addition to mileage reimbursement.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Chaphalkar at 320-229-4597, Dickrell at 320-529-6500 or Putnam at 320-363-7791.