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11028 N Crystal Rd.
Hero Story
• Sandra was a teacher at Lakeview High School for many years. During her working years she participated in the normal PTA types of participation in which she organized events such as the Elementary Christmas store, worked at the Scholastic Book store. She participated in town clean ups with the summer little league, made baked goods for the library fund raiser, etc.
• As a teacher she led initiatives that weren’t technically a part of her job description. She taught Family Living and Consumer Education, Health Education and was a high school counselor. Other needs related to the normal duties of those positions came up so she tried to step up as needed. In example, at the requests of friends she volunteered to teach a few adult evening cooking classes. This was in the early years of the microwave so she taught tips related to use of this new appliance. She initiated the school wide Crisis Response Team, lead the first Sex Ed Advisory Committees, spent a couple years as the Drug Free Schools Chair, organized events such as annual Career Days and two Teen Anti Bullying Event/Campaigns. Several required funding so she did some grant writing. Sandy wrote more than $200,000 worth of grants throughout her teaching career and received more than $150,000 in funding. (There was one Career Preparation Grant for $96,000 so there were a lot of small grants). She served on several School Improvement teams and chaired one of the goal sub-committees as the high school worked toward national accreditation.
• She served two terms on the Vestaburg School Board. Sandy was secretary for two of those years, vice president for a couple and president for her last year. She also served two terms on the Richland Township Library Board. In the first term Sandy served as secretary. In the last year she served as vice president and on the budget committee.
• Sandy helped with several community events. She volunteered with the Vestaburg community days for 4-5 years. As a part of that committee, her responsibilities included organizing events such as the children’s parade and the Shine The Light event that serves to raise money for a community member in need. It includes a luminary event and remembrance walk. She’s read books to children as a part of the library’s summer reading program, taught instant pot cooking classes, lead outdoor events such as giant bubbles and parachute play as a part of a church camp. In the last two years Sandy has volunteered as a quiz master for the Vestaburg School’s quiz bowl events.
• After Sandy retired from teaching, she joined Americorp/VISTA and served two years with that organization. In the first year she moved to Wisconsin to serve as a Family Services Educator with Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity. In that year Sandy developed training programs for Habitat families and volunteers. She also wrote newsletters and helped expand volunteer and family recruitment strategies. In her second year she served as a VISTA Leader with the Volunteer Centers of Michigan which was a part of the Michigan Nonprofit Center. In that year she served to recruit and train other VISTA volunteers who were placed with Volunteer Centers throughout the state. After that year Sandy continued to work with the Michigan Nonprofit Center as a part time subcontractor. That led to connections with nonprofits throughout the state and she was often asked to present on various topics. She’s presented and led discussions with organizations such as the Volunteer Resource Center of Newaygo and the Saginaw Area Habitat area meeting. While Sandy did some presentations such as those at the Michigan Habitat State Conference as a part of her contract, she did several presentations to smaller groups on a volunteer basis. She has also presented to a variety of organization such as the Montcalm Foster Parent group on topics related to parenting and child development.
• Sandy briefly served as a volunteer with Woodland Hospice. While comfortable with the concept of illness and death, Sandy struggled with the medical aspects of illness such as clearing breathing tubes. So she resigned after 3 years. Sandy states, “bless those who are willing and able to confront those challenges.”
• Sandy has found her niche as she is now in her 6th year serving as a CASA volunteer with Montcalm CASA. She’s had 4 cases over those 6 years and served with 8 different children. She’s made an incredible impact in the lives the the children she has served. Giving over 715 volunteer hours for Montcalm CASA.
• Sandy is also a volunteer water aerobics instructor. She started with the Wellness Center in Lakeview while still teaching. She now lead a water aerobics group of 5-9 people 5 days a week at the Edmore Inn’s pool. She considers these as being as much for my her own benefit and wellbeing as for the benefit of others. She gains so much from her interaction with children. She states, “They help keep me young.” Sandy shared that her water aerobics group always says that we serve as a social outlet and support group for each other as we improve and maintain our physical fitness. She may plan and lead the exercises but she also receive that support as she leads.
• All of these activities have allowed Sandy to feel relevant and productive. She’s been able to continue to use her knowledge and skills in ways that also allow her to continue to grow. Sandy always tells people that as an introvert it would be much too easy for me to just sit in her chair with a good book. Serving as a volunteer gets her out of the house which is better for her mental and physical health. Sandy also feel like she’s giving back to a community that gave so much to her. Her father died when she was 4 so she was raised by a single working mother. Sandy feels that she was truly raised by a village that included school educators and volunteers such as Sunday School teachers, Girl Scout and 4-H leaders, church members as well as good neighbors. Sandy states, “It’s now my turn to be a part of a village for another child.”
Sandy is a pillar of the community and also of our Montcalm CASA program. She is a devoted and loyal volunteer who shares endless empathy to the children and families she serves. Sandy often brings her love for healthy foods, cooking and nutrition into her volunteer role and has been known to introduce cooking and healthy meal planning into the homes she visits. Sandy was a “Foods” teacher for many years and she brings this expertise to CASA children and families with ease. In some of the homes she works in no one ever helped the adults in the home learn to cook healthy meals and as she helps the children, many adults in the homes have been as excited as the children to take part in a cooking lesson. Sandy has a way of helping without making anyone feel embarrassed but rather makes cooking a fun and memorable experience.
How has the Nominee been an inspiration for others to volunteer/serve/give?
Sandy is creative in the way she connects with children and families. She listens to the children and helps them to expand upon their interests. She is encouraging and non-judgmental and through her so many kids have experienced crafts or activities they have never had a chance to explore before. I often will ask Sandy to share with her fellow volunteers successes she has had in connecting with children and families and she serves as an inspiration to many others in her role. Sandy is always open, honest, and willing to provide excellent advice and suggestions to help her fellow CASA volunteers.
What is unique about the Nominee's service that is deserving of recognition?
Sandy truly puts her heart into each and every child and family and case she is assigned to. She is tenacious and can be counted on to represent our program in the best of light, every time. Her instincts as a volunteer are incredible and she seeks creative solutions to problems. If she works with a difficult person or finds herself with a difficult situation she creatively, gently, and lovingly finds a viable solution. She is truly an excellent resource for children and families and I’m very grateful for her experience and the ways she positively impacts children.
11028 N Crystal Rd.
Hero Story
• Sandra was a teacher at Lakeview High School for many years. During her working years she participated in the normal PTA types of participation in which she organized events such as the Elementary Christmas store, worked at the Scholastic Book store. She participated in town clean ups with the summer little league, made baked goods for the library fund raiser, etc.
• As a teacher she led initiatives that weren’t technically a part of her job description. She taught Family Living and Consumer Education, Health Education and was a high school counselor. Other needs related to the normal duties of those positions came up so she tried to step up as needed. In example, at the requests of friends she volunteered to teach a few adult evening cooking classes. This was in the early years of the microwave so she taught tips related to use of this new appliance. She initiated the school wide Crisis Response Team, lead the first Sex Ed Advisory Committees, spent a couple years as the Drug Free Schools Chair, organized events such as annual Career Days and two Teen Anti Bullying Event/Campaigns. Several required funding so she did some grant writing. Sandy wrote more than $200,000 worth of grants throughout her teaching career and received more than $150,000 in funding. (There was one Career Preparation Grant for $96,000 so there were a lot of small grants). She served on several School Improvement teams and chaired one of the goal sub-committees as the high school worked toward national accreditation.
• She served two terms on the Vestaburg School Board. Sandy was secretary for two of those years, vice president for a couple and president for her last year. She also served two terms on the Richland Township Library Board. In the first term Sandy served as secretary. In the last year she served as vice president and on the budget committee.
• Sandy helped with several community events. She volunteered with the Vestaburg community days for 4-5 years. As a part of that committee, her responsibilities included organizing events such as the children’s parade and the Shine The Light event that serves to raise money for a community member in need. It includes a luminary event and remembrance walk. She’s read books to children as a part of the library’s summer reading program, taught instant pot cooking classes, lead outdoor events such as giant bubbles and parachute play as a part of a church camp. In the last two years Sandy has volunteered as a quiz master for the Vestaburg School’s quiz bowl events.
• After Sandy retired from teaching, she joined Americorp/VISTA and served two years with that organization. In the first year she moved to Wisconsin to serve as a Family Services Educator with Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity. In that year Sandy developed training programs for Habitat families and volunteers. She also wrote newsletters and helped expand volunteer and family recruitment strategies. In her second year she served as a VISTA Leader with the Volunteer Centers of Michigan which was a part of the Michigan Nonprofit Center. In that year she served to recruit and train other VISTA volunteers who were placed with Volunteer Centers throughout the state. After that year Sandy continued to work with the Michigan Nonprofit Center as a part time subcontractor. That led to connections with nonprofits throughout the state and she was often asked to present on various topics. She’s presented and led discussions with organizations such as the Volunteer Resource Center of Newaygo and the Saginaw Area Habitat area meeting. While Sandy did some presentations such as those at the Michigan Habitat State Conference as a part of her contract, she did several presentations to smaller groups on a volunteer basis. She has also presented to a variety of organization such as the Montcalm Foster Parent group on topics related to parenting and child development.
• Sandy briefly served as a volunteer with Woodland Hospice. While comfortable with the concept of illness and death, Sandy struggled with the medical aspects of illness such as clearing breathing tubes. So she resigned after 3 years. Sandy states, “bless those who are willing and able to confront those challenges.”
• Sandy has found her niche as she is now in her 6th year serving as a CASA volunteer with Montcalm CASA. She’s had 4 cases over those 6 years and served with 8 different children. She’s made an incredible impact in the lives the the children she has served. Giving over 715 volunteer hours for Montcalm CASA.
• Sandy is also a volunteer water aerobics instructor. She started with the Wellness Center in Lakeview while still teaching. She now lead a water aerobics group of 5-9 people 5 days a week at the Edmore Inn’s pool. She considers these as being as much for my her own benefit and wellbeing as for the benefit of others. She gains so much from her interaction with children. She states, “They help keep me young.” Sandy shared that her water aerobics group always says that we serve as a social outlet and support group for each other as we improve and maintain our physical fitness. She may plan and lead the exercises but she also receive that support as she leads.
• All of these activities have allowed Sandy to feel relevant and productive. She’s been able to continue to use her knowledge and skills in ways that also allow her to continue to grow. Sandy always tells people that as an introvert it would be much too easy for me to just sit in her chair with a good book. Serving as a volunteer gets her out of the house which is better for her mental and physical health. Sandy also feel like she’s giving back to a community that gave so much to her. Her father died when she was 4 so she was raised by a single working mother. Sandy feels that she was truly raised by a village that included school educators and volunteers such as Sunday School teachers, Girl Scout and 4-H leaders, church members as well as good neighbors. Sandy states, “It’s now my turn to be a part of a village for another child.”
Sandy is a pillar of the community and also of our Montcalm CASA program. She is a devoted and loyal volunteer who shares endless empathy to the children and families she serves. Sandy often brings her love for healthy foods, cooking and nutrition into her volunteer role and has been known to introduce cooking and healthy meal planning into the homes she visits. Sandy was a “Foods” teacher for many years and she brings this expertise to CASA children and families with ease. In some of the homes she works in no one ever helped the adults in the home learn to cook healthy meals and as she helps the children, many adults in the homes have been as excited as the children to take part in a cooking lesson. Sandy has a way of helping without making anyone feel embarrassed but rather makes cooking a fun and memorable experience.
How has the Nominee been an inspiration for others to volunteer/serve/give?
Sandy is creative in the way she connects with children and families. She listens to the children and helps them to expand upon their interests. She is encouraging and non-judgmental and through her so many kids have experienced crafts or activities they have never had a chance to explore before. I often will ask Sandy to share with her fellow volunteers successes she has had in connecting with children and families and she serves as an inspiration to many others in her role. Sandy is always open, honest, and willing to provide excellent advice and suggestions to help her fellow CASA volunteers.
What is unique about the Nominee's service that is deserving of recognition?
Sandy truly puts her heart into each and every child and family and case she is assigned to. She is tenacious and can be counted on to represent our program in the best of light, every time. Her instincts as a volunteer are incredible and she seeks creative solutions to problems. If she works with a difficult person or finds herself with a difficult situation she creatively, gently, and lovingly finds a viable solution. She is truly an excellent resource for children and families and I’m very grateful for her experience and the ways she positively impacts children.