(Editor’s note: This story was written to help highlight National Volunteer Week April 20-26. This year’s celebratory theme is “Celebrating Service.”)
by Dennis Dalman
Laurie Allen of Sartell always loved her teaching job, but when she retired she missed the dynamic interactions she’d had with students, and so quickly decided to start volunteering.
She learned about volunteer options from the AmeriCorps Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, and through that agency she discovered a job she knew she’d enjoy. So, for the last nine years, Allen has been cooking meals for the residents and their visitors at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Augusta. There, she works Mondays, Wednesdays and sometimes Fridays to fill in for cooking shifts.
“I cook for anywhere from15 people and sometimes make lunch for as many as 40 people,” said Allen, who describes herself as a self-trained cook. “It’s a lot of fun being with the residents, their family members and other visitors.”
Allen also volunteers at Celebration Lutheran Church in Sartell, which has what’s called a “Free Store” to provide food to those in need every Tuesday. As a co-director, she helps pack and distribute up to 80 bags of groceries every Tuesday.
And that’s not all. As a member of RSVP, Allen frequently gets emails about what other volunteer jobs are available for her and/or others to do.
“Things pop up,” she said.
Among the many pop-up volunteer options she’s chosen to do are the following:
Working at the Salvation Army packing backpacks of school supplies at the start of the school year for children who need those school-related items.
Planting flowers in the early summer at the Dick Putz baseball field in St. Cloud.
Helping elderly people move into and arrange their apartments.
Why volunteer?
“I’m a real believer in the Scriptures – those words about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you,” Allen said. “It makes me feel good to be helping others and to see their joy and appreciation. Volunteering is a good way to make connections, to bring kindness and love. It’s a form of teaching, really, and of giving.”
Allen’s life
Born in St. Paul, Laurie Allen grew up mainly in Sartell and graduated from Sartell High School in 1970.
She earned her teaching credentials, including a master’s degree, from St. Cloud State University. There, in a classroom she met a fellow student, Doug Allen from Austin, Minn. The two began to date and eventually married.
Laurie taught third and fourth grades in Sartell and later wrapped up her career as a teacher at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Sartell. Husband Doug for years was the owner of a Kirby vacuum-cleaner franchise.
The Allens, who have been Sartell residents for almost 50 years, have three daughters and 11 grandchildren.
Laurie’s at-home hobby is gardening and tending to the many plants she has inside her home.
Why not volunteer?
Allen highly recommends that people – and not just retired people – check into options for volunteering because she knows first-hand how rewarding it is.
If over the age of 55, a good place to start is AmeriCorps RSVP whose main office is located at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive in St. Cloud. Its phone number is 320-255-7295.
RSVP teams up with more than 1,000 central Minnesota neighbors who fill their time with activities they enjoy while making life better for others. Its volunteers make new friends, stay active and become part of something special – healthy human connections and strengthened bonds with others.
RSVP partners with local human-service organizations to enhance their impact through volunteer support while making possible a volunteer experience tailored to the interests and skills of each volunteer. In addition, RSVP offers an extensive support system that includes supplemental volunteer insurance and an optional transportation reimbursement.
There are still hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout RSVP’s service area – the counties of Stearns, Benton, Sherburne and Wright.
Under 55?
For those who are younger than 55, it’s recommended they first consider how they would like to volunteer. Then they could contact various organizations, service clubs, hospitals or other places to find out if they have volunteer options to match the interests or skills of the prospective volunteer.
Another good idea is to check out the “National Volunteer Week” website for ideas.
Laurie Allen thrives on the meaningful connections with people she developed as a volunteer via the Retired Services Volunteer Program. A retired teacher and volunteer cook, Allen serves as the current director of RSVP. Allen is a Sartell resident. In the photo, Allen is making an egg-bake dish for residents of Quiet Oaks Hospice.
