Hello Volunteers!
I am happy to introduce the return of our monthly volunteer newsletter,
Together We Can!
This newsletter is an outlet for you to hear about what’s going on at the Goodman Community Center, any important updates you need to know about, shout-outs to some of your fellow volunteers and other volunteer opportunities available at the Center! If you ever want to give a shout-out to a volunteer or have news to share, feel free to contact me!
Thank you,
Mai Lor Yang, Volunteer Manager/Office Manager
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MEET OUR STAFF
Mai Lor Yang
Hi, my name is Mai Lor. I have been with the Goodman Center in my role of Office Manager/Volunteer Manager for about eight months now. You can say I am new to Madison, but not really. I earned my undergraduate degree here at UW – Madison, so Madison has been my home previously. Post-graduation, I moved back to my hometown of La Crosse. I always knew I wanted to move back to Madison, and after three years in La Crosse, I was ready to come back. I enjoy doing things outdoors such as hiking, kayaking and canoeing, along with arts and crafts and traveling. My favorite place I’ve been so far has been San Diego.
In the eight months of being here at Goodman, I’ve had the pleasure to work with some amazing and dedicated staff, as well as the most passionate and caring volunteers. My experience with volunteers has always been positive, but the people here definitely feel like a family. There isn’t anyone who isn’t willing to step up and help out where there is a need, even in last-minute situations. I am humbled by this support to achieve the GCC mission of strengthening lives and securing futures.
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Deng Kuot
My name is Deng B. Kuot. Three words that best describes me are friendly, kind and open-minded. I am serving as a Volunteer Coordinator through the Marshfield Clinic Health Systems AmeriCorps. Goodman Community Center is my host site. I started last fall in September and my AmeriCorps service term will come to an end at the end of August.
I am originally from southern Sudan and have been in the United States for about 12 years. After coming to the U.S., I grew up in Chicago and received my undergraduate degree at Northeastern Illinois University. I enjoy walking, jogging, reading and connecting with people.
Since starting my service at GCC, I have had the chance to meet and work with many different volunteers, building some great relationships. I’m very grateful to be part of this volunteer community. I love the Center’s mission: “We strengthen lives and secure futures.” All our volunteers lend heart and a helping hand in striving to achieve this mission and make a positive impact in someone’s life. I have come to learn and understand that GCC doesn’t just talk about action, but it interprets and translates into action to transform our community.
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WHAT'S GOOD AT GOODMAN
Supply Drive Success
You donated, we gathered up supplies and now we’re ready to distribute! We have 200 bags packed with school supplies, books and personal care items for Lowell and Emerson elementary families. Tomorrow, we’ll set up a drive-thru system similar to our food pantry and get these important items in the hands of families.
Thank you to EZ Office Products
for donating supplies and helping us get together such large quantities so fast.
Thank you to Madison Reading Project
for donating 500 books for all reading levels.
And thank you to our wonderful community
for stepping up once again!
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Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Some wear T-shirts and deliver massive quantities of food. Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin has been an incredible partner to GCC for years, and has really stepped up these last two months. Like all food banks in Wisconsin, Second Harvest has seen a dramatic increase in demand, ordering and gathering three times as much food as they would in a regular season. We source about 75% of our food from Second Harvest, and even with the increased demand, they are providing support completely free of charge.
Thank you so much, Second Harvest!
We could not operate our food pantry without you.
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Early Childhood Education
How do you to teach 4K and preschool students over video? Very creatively. GCC early childhood education teachers are offering daily video lessons to these youngest students, as well as checking in with families weekly. “We have to come up with creative ways to connect because learning cannot happen without connection,” said 4K teachers Claire and Michelle. “We created circle time areas in our house to try to have some continuity in the videos, and we play familiar songs from our classroom during our Zoom calls.”
Staff and teachers are also working hard to make an annual GCC tradition happen in the wake of COVID-19: preschool graduation. Stay tuned for more info (and adorable photos) from the planned drive-thru graduation in June.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Roseanne Theis
My name is Rosanne Theis. My husband, Dennis Thompson, and I have been volunteering at the Goodman Center for about three years. We started off volunteering at the pop-up dinners. This appealed to us because it was only a couple of times a year. The more we learned about GCC the more impressed we were with what they were doing and how they were helping the community. We then started helping out as needed, like the Thanksgiving baskets and community dinners. When the pandemic took hold, I contacted GCC and asked if there was anything they needed help with. That was when we started volunteering on a weekly basis. We now deliver meals on Wednesday, and on Thursday we help out in the food pantry. I can't say enough good things about GCC. They are the most caring people I have ever had the opportunity to work with.
One talent I would like to have is to be able to play the piano. When you see someone who really knows how to play, it just looks so relaxing and peaceful. Another talent I would like to have would be patience. I think learning to play piano would be the easier of the two :)
I love living in Madison because it has so much to offer. In “normal” times there is always something of interested to do in Madison. If I could live somewhere else, I would pick a quiet farmette out in the country. I grew up in rural Dane County, and I miss the peace and quiet.
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MILESTONES
Happy Anniversary to these individuals
who started with GCC in June and continue to commit to putting their best foot forward to strengthen lives and futures! We are glad you’re here!
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Ardis Hempel,
20 years
Debra Baker,
8 years
Bill Bright,
3 years
Mary Tinberg,
3 years
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Krisann Hopwood,
2 years
Teresa Anacker,
2 years
Zachary Nechvatal,
1 year
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This month, I would like to recognize our volunteers who have
contributed over 1,000 volunteer hours
to the Center.
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Alexandra DeGrandis
:
11,570
service hours
Jim Muehlenberg
:
2,558
service hours
Terry Gunning
:
1,794
service hours
Laurel Steffs
:
1,421
service hours
Ardis Hempel
:
1,025
service hours
Terese Allen
:
1,011
service hours
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Claire Rynders, June
2
, Community Meal Asst.
Aubrey Woods, June 4, Food Pantry Assistant
Kayla Cribbs, June 10, Food Works Organizer
Jeannine Wahlquist, June 11, Thanksgiving Baskets
Richard Saunders Jr, June 12, Senior Meals
Graham Hunt, June 20, Food Pantry Assistant
Grace Tollefson, June 20, GIGM Intern
Cheryl Robinson, June 25, Senior Meals
Sierra Kooistra, June 27, Events
Jessica Jones, June 28, Events
Robert Nelson, June 29, Room Host
David Turley, June 29, Community Meal Asst.
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SHOUT OUTS!
On behalf of GCC, we'd like to give some shout-outs to a few in our amazing volunteer family!
First off, a HUGE “THANK YOU!” to the following volunteers for jumping in and helping during our time in quarantine to ensure that our
food pantry and meal delivery service
is successful and efficient.
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Jim Muehlenberg
Bobbie and Robert Rudder
Rosanne Theis
Dennis Thompson
Lee Shaver
Meredith Lowe
Bird Ross
Barbara Chusid
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Nancy Kujack-Ford
Joy Gander
Jamie Rozzell
Rachel Sandretto
Steve Gil
Patricia Blanco
Jordan Blanco
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Secondly, shout out to the
volunteers who have helped our seniors feel connected
through this time of isolation for their health and safety. Thank you so much – our seniors have enjoyed every minute of the time you’ve taken to connect with them!
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Aubrey Woods
Diane Stapleton
Anitra Hovelson
William Houterman
Barb Freeman
Jacilyn Joanis
Sarah Bradley
Carol Kline
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Cheryl Robinson
Megan Schliesman
Jennifer Lien
Kim Krouth
Jisun Yoo
Mary Malaney
Betty O’Rourke
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Finally, a
huge shout out to all of you who have dedicated your time to the Center.
Every success that GCC has is because of your contribution – we recognize that and you!
Thank you, you are appreciated!
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RECRUITMENT
If you’re interested in helping out in other areas at the Center because your programming isn’t currently running, please take a look at this volunteer opportunity:
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Moving furniture
As we start ramping up to open up the center, we need to ensure that we are encouraging social distancing, health, and safety of all staff, volunteers, and community members. We are looking for people to help with moving furniture and items that are in the hallways to designated storage areas. Not everything will require lifting, nor will all lifting be heavy. As we move things around, we will also need help to dust, sweep, and mop so that we can prep the floors for laying down directional tape to continue practicing social distancing.
If you're able to help, it would be much appreciated. Please reach out to Mai Lor at
mailor@goodmancenter.org
or 608-204-8056 so she can get things scheduled and send you more information.
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GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Ironworks:
149 Waubesa Street
Brassworks:
214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
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