WFHB

Shoes and a handbag make the outfit and Donna Lobdell knows her shoes and bags. It all started at the Farmers’ Market one day five years ago when Donna struck up a conversation with Sandy Keller, director of My Sister’s Closet. That simple ask turned into a twice-a-week volunteer shift for Donna in the nonprofit resale boutique and the opportunity to share her passion for shoes and bags with women re-entering the workforce. My Sister’s Closet promotes economic self-sufficiency, by providing women professional support services and tools for success both women and children. For Donna, it is all about the women. Seeing them excited to take their new professional outfit that she has helped them assemble and find success in a job interview is all the reward that she needs. Read more about Donna and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, June 17. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

My Sister’s Closet

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Joan Hawkins had done a lot of creative writing as a younger person, but she mostly abandoned that pursuit as she advanced in her academic career and other priorities took over. Recently she began to feel the pull to return to memoir writing. She attended an open mike night sponsored by the Writers Guild and read one of her memoir pieces and received such encouraging feedback that it spurred her to deepen her involvement with the Guild and continue her pursuit of memoir writing. Joan found the Guild to be a warm and welcoming group that supported her endeavors and connected her to a community of writers. Slowly her involvement started to include administrative support of the group as a volunteer as well. The importance of the representation of writing in the spectrum of arts in our community remains a priority for Joan. The Writers Guild began in 2010 to sponsor local writer’s work and give an opportunity to meet and connect. All are welcome, writers or not, to join any of these events as participants or volunteers in supporting the mission of the Writers Guild. Read more about Joan and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, June 10. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Writers Guild at Bloomington – Arts Alliance of Bloomington

Writers Guild Facebook Page

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Kathy Morrison has been the volunteer behind the volunteers for the past 7 years of Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, a fundraising run for the Bloomington Health Foundation Cancer Support Fund that assists – at no charge – those in our community with needs beyond clinical care. Beginning in March each year, Kathy joins the planning committee to begin the seven-month process of recruiting over 400 volunteers to support the operations of this 5000-person fundraising race. Kathy has been a community volunteer for over 20 years and learned from each of her experiences about how to effectively rally others to engage in service. These are lessons she brings to her role with HOC. She finds inspiration in the cause that the race supports and in the people she volunteers alongside to make this event a success. It is no surprise that she has seen volunteers return year after year to participate in the race. Some began as early as middle school and now participate as students at Indiana University. Kathy is a volunteer leader for every participant with her enthusiasm and dedication to the cause. Read more about Kathy and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, June 3. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

FEATURED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY LINKS

Kathy Pratt has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. She originally got involved after being asked by a friend to join her as a partner on her delivery route. She has stuck with it all of those years and enjoyed not just spending time with her friend, but has gained an appreciation for the need of the clients and the organization that it takes to keep everything coordinated. She is one of over 220 volunteers who work in collaboration to deliver meals to the 84 clients that they serve. Kathy is now a board member and is an advocate for the increasing need for the Meals on Wheels program as our aging population grows. Read more about Kathy and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, May 13. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Bloomington Meals on Wheels

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

It may have been how it reminded her of spending time with her grandmother. Or it may have been her desire to have the opportunity to connect with an individual directly. Or, as she reflects now, it may have been precisely because she found herself feeling uncomfortable with the idea of death, that Kit Sommers sought out more information about becoming a volunteer for Southern Care Hospice. Kit is a pre-med student in her last year at IU and not shy about confronting her own fears about the final stage of life as an individual and as a future medical practitioner. She now has a regular visiting schedule with her assigned client and enjoys all of the little things they experience together. Her time as a Hospice volunteer has made her even more aware of the importance of the “little things” in life that bring happiness and calm, like a hello and a smile. Read more about Kit and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, May 6. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

SouthernCare Hospice

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Henry Dohnert’s volunteer journey has come full circle. He was once a high school drop out who couldn’t see a path for himself to get back on track with his education. It was a mentor who turned that around for him and set him on the path to getting his GED and eventually a college education. As a recent retiree from a successful career in the HR field, Henry brought his experience full circle to help in any way he could with the students in the GED and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at Broadview Learning Center. He is now the mentor to these students that he had all those years ago. He teaches resume writing and interview skills to students and assists in the reading classes. His lived experience of the transformational power of education has added an extra layer of meaning to the time he shares with the students. Read more about Henry and listen to his story of service beginning Monday, April 29. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

MCCSC Adult Education- Broadview Learning Center

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Kevin has been involved in the Real Men Read program through the Foundation for Monroe County Schools since its inception. He became aware of the opportunity through his place of work and is a part of a team of employees who rotate throughout the month to cover the reading shifts in the kindergarten classrooms they serve. He has really relished being a role model to these young readers in the schools and to be able to do so during the work day and with the support of his employer. Kevin takes his role as a reader seriously because he knows that the kids are watching his every move. He does his homework and makes sure that he comes prepared for every new book so that he is able to answer questions and spotlight new words used. His reward is the growth that he sees in all of the kids through the year and the welcome he receives each time he arrives in the classroom. Read more about Kevin and listen to his story of service beginning Monday, April 22. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Real Men Read Program through the Foundation for Monroe County Community Schools

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Pam Clark likes to say that she has adopted over 500 pets. And that number is growing every year! While those animals are not all in her own home, that statement is no less true. As a volunteer for the Brown County Humane Association animal shelter, she feels a part of sheltering, loving, fostering, and caring for each of the animals adopted through BCHA. It is that kind of dedication that has made Pam Clark an invaluable and dedicated volunteer for the animals in Brown County. She is a part of many of the programs that support the shelter each year and has made it a part of her family’s activities as well. Every year she volunteers with the fundraising barn sale and Chocolate Walk events that support the programs of the BCHA. Pam will keep adding to that total number of animals adopted each year! Read more about Pam and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, April 15. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Brown County Humane Society

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Tracy’s interest in helping those affected by disaster was modeled to her in her youth. She has a very clear memory from childhood of coming upon a house fire while out on a drive with her grandparents and watching them not hesitate to take the time to help and comfort the family. She never forgot the feeling she had of seeing people rising up to help those who are in the middle of one of their most desperate moments. She found a way to do the same as a Red Cross volunteer. Her service through Red Cross disaster services has taken her to many states and in many helping roles during disasters. Her experience has been more than just a time of helping, but one of perspective and gratitude for Tracy. As communities rely more and more on volunteers as agents of disaster relief, Tracy encourages more people to join the band of Red Cross angels who appear in times of disaster to provide comfort and relief. Read more about Tracy and listen to her story of service beginning Monday, April 8. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

The American Red Cross

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Joseph Fowler is a stay-at-home dad to his two children who attend the Project School here in Bloomington. But not too long ago he had a very different role as a division 1 college football coach leading his team to an Orange Bowl championship in 2008. When Joseph and his wife moved to Bloomington six years ago, he made the shift to prioritize his kids over the pressures of coaching and he hasn’t looked back. As a Project School volunteer, he helps students in the classroom and participates one day a week as a lunchroom helper for all of the students in the school. It is a role that has expanded his perspectives and relationships with teachers and other parents in positive ways. Read more about Joseph and listen to his story of service beginning Monday, Apr. 1. Airing at 7:55 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on 91.3 and 98.1FM WFHB Community Radio or online at WFHB.org/category/news/activate_/.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

The Project School

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.