On The Inside . . . RHF Honors Those Making a Difference

Volunteers
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committeed citizens can change the world; indeed,
it’s the ony thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead’s (U.S. Anthropologist 1901 - 1978) statement has been proven true over and over again. The
difference volunteers make in RHF, its mission, and the daily lives of its residents is witnessed time and
time again.
Grandma Ruth
Monona Meadows - Monona, Wisconsin
Ruth Gierach recently received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from
RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) of Dane County for her more than 6,000
hours of volunteer service to Kennedy Elementary School and their Foster
Grandparent Program.
“Grandma Ruth,” as she is called by the kindergarten and first grade students,
helps with learning to write their names, sounds of the alphabet, and later
to read books on their own. She helps with the school’s music program as well.
Over the past ten years, Ruth has watched many of these children grow up
before her eyes and has become a reliable staple at the school. Her first students
are in high school now.
As a mother of five, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of one, Ruth loves children and has always
had an interest in teaching. She sees her work at Kennedy Elementary as a chance to finally achieve her dream.
A Woman of Many Talents
Madison Heritage Apartments - Madison, Indiana
Faye King has lived at Madison Heritage Apartments (MHA) for six years. At
the age of 90 her volunteer activities include helping the Red Cross Blood Bank
and various assignments that she gets with RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program).
This February, Faye decided to take on the task of planting the community’s
flower beds. With tulip bulbs and a variety of other flowers in hand, Faye
worked in the garden area (after Madison’s maintenance man, Jack, had gone
through it with a tiller), planting the flowers and putting edging
around the flower beds.
After completing that task, she said she wanted to try her hand at
painting “Barn Quilts” - wooden squares, brightly painted, that
are popping up throughout the area. After they are painted, these
squares are then mounted on fences as decoration.
MHA is looking forward to a garden full of flowers and already
have “lookers” who are driving by and stopping to gaze at the
brightly decorated fences that now border their community.
Volunteers are the life-blood of any non-profit organization and it is wonderful to see so many
who contribute to making our organization and our communities what they are today - vibrant and
growing. To all that do make a difference on a daily basis - thank you.
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