The S-Files

Latest Episodes:

Harvesting from the Heart with Farm to School Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Peyton Keith, who is serving with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School at the Bayfield School District, where she herself graduated from high school having grown up in a tribal community just outside of Bayfield. Peyton discusses the nutrition and gardening lessons and field trips she has done the first few months of this school year with the students she serves, a large majority of whom are tribal members, including the cultural connections they make during their activities. She describes working with her students to harvest items out of their school garden, their aquaponics system, and a field trip to gather wild rice and how they have used these items and other local produce to create pizzas, apple cider, apple chips, and other items for nutrition lessons. Peyton also discusses connections that have been made with local farmers, including having them sharing information with her students and getting more locally sourced items into the school meal program. Listen to learn how Peyton is making a difference in her local community and the plans she has for future activities inside and outside the classroom to continue making connections with her students.

Promoting Public Safety and Serving Behind the Scenes with RSVP of Dane County Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service stories of two AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, Jim Jenkins and Peggy York, who are serving with RSVP of Dane County. We start our conversation with Jim Jenkins, who describes the numerous volunteer service activities he has done over the last roughly eighteen years, including disaster response and preparedness training with the Red Cross and the Triad program, being a volunteer driver, and years of service on the RSVP board. We then sit down with Peggy York, who discusses her service on the Assessment Committee and Triad Committee, as well as sharing about the volunteer service her grandmother did with RSVP of Dane County as one of its earliest volunteers in the 1970s. Listen to learn about how both Jim and Peggy are making a difference through promoting safety for senior citizens and helping to support many other RSVP programs that impact people throughout Dane County.

The Golden Age of Service – RSVP of Dane County Turns Fifty Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Dane County as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary serving the people of Dane County. We sit down with RSVP of Dane County program directors Margie Zutter and Diana Jost to discuss the impact their AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have had through over eight million hours of volunteer service over the last fifty years and the multiple projects they are currently doing to support people in local communities. They describe several service efforts their RSVP volunteers are doing, including driver services for medical appointments, home delivered meals, the Triad safety program, the Homeworker program creating handmade items for people in need, and those volunteering with numerous sites and organizations throughout the county. Margie and Diana also describe the service their RSVP volunteers are doing through intergenerational programs and assisting students, including with their Computer Buddies and pen pal programs, as well as the service of their Foster Grandparents Program AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Listen to learn about the multiple ways the service done by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Dane County have made a difference for the community and the impact it has had on both those served and the volunteers themselves.

Finding Service Passions by Volunteering with RSVP of Dane County Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer Judy Mayer, who has made a difference serving through RSVP of Dane County at multiple sites and with several programs since 2008. Judy describes the numerous ways she has found to impact the community through RSVP of Dane County, assisting people from students to senior citizens through her service with the Computer Buddies and Home Delivered Meals programs, as well as through volunteering at the Habitat ReStore of Dane County, the Henry Vilas Zoo, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Agrace Thrift Home Store, and with many other efforts. Listen to learn about how Judy has made meaningful connections with people across her variety of service experiences and why she recommends that people try out volunteer service experiences and find their own way to make a difference for others.

Leading Classes for Refugees and English Language Learners with MCHS Community Corps Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Bethany Mallek, who served over the last year with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) AmeriCorps Community Corps at the Portage County Literacy Council. Bethany describes her service teaching classes for adult English language learners and U.S. Cultural Orientation classes for refugees that are living in the Stevens Point area. She discusses several aspects of planning and leading each of these classes, including how she has worked to adapt the lessons to fit the experiences of the participants. Listen to learn about how Bethany has forged participant connections and a supportive environment in these classes, which she is excited to continue to lead as she begins her second AmeriCorps term this fall.

Sparking a Love of Lifelong Volunteering with MCHS Community Corps Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sarah Webb, who served over the last year with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) AmeriCorps Community Corps and served the previous two years with MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin at the Volunteer Center of Racine as their Youth Volunteer Coordinator. Sarah describes her service connecting students with volunteer opportunities as part of the Youth Volunteer Corps program, both during the school year and as part of the youth volunteer summer camps she has been coordinating over the last few months. She also discusses several trainings she has organized for youth this summer, including CERT disaster training, First Aid, and their initial Junior Citizen Police Academy, for which she drew upon her own prior experience as a police officer to create. Listen to learn about how Sarah dramatically increased student participation in volunteer activities during her service, including her recognition nationally in 2021 at the Youth Volunteer Corps Summit Awards Ceremony with their Catalyst Award for the impact of her service.

Providing Rides and Leadership with RSVP of Rock County Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer service done by Ed Hansen, who was honored this summer at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards with the AmeriCorps Seniors Lifetime Impact Volunteer award for his years of impactful volunteer service with RSVP of Rock County. As part of this conversation, we also speak with their Seniors Volunteering for Seniors Coordinator, Patty Hansberry, about the impact that Ed has had through their program. Ed discusses the service he does as a volunteer driver with their Seniors Volunteering for Seniors program, as well as over several years on the RSVP of Rock County board, including his current role as its president. Ed and Patty also describe how the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Rock County were able to continue assisting people during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they hope to continue helping others in the future. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Ed and other AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Rock County have made a difference in their local community.

Empowering Women and Connecting with Kids by Volunteering Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Carol Schumacher, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for East Central Wisconsin for her volunteer service with the Women's Empowerment Series in Fond du Lac. Carol discusses the multiple efforts she leads and the programs she assists as the Volunteer Director for the Women’s Empowerment Series, including their Volunteer Work Program and Dressing For Success. She also describes how she created and leads their puppeteer troupe called Positive Puppetry, which addresses feelings, communication, and other topics, helping children and others learn about these areas and open up about difficulties that they have faced. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Carol has made a difference for the women and children participating in the programming provided by the Women’s Empowerment Series.

Helping others through Volunteer Tax Preparation Services Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Joe Byrnes, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for Southwest Wisconsin for his volunteer service with the Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Joe assists numerous low-to-moderate income individuals and families each year by providing free tax preparation services and serves as the Program Coordinator for VITA, coordinating their team of more than 25 volunteers. He describes how he and the other VITA volunteers are making a difference for people throughout the region and the transitions they made to continue serving people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen learn about how Joe has helped the VITA program expand the number of locations and people that it serves, including the tangible results for the community, including helping return over $1,000,000 back into the community as families and individuals received their eligible tax credits and full income tax refunds.

Decades of Dedicated Service with Special Olympics Wisconsin Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Debra Moore-Gruenloh, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for Northeast Wisconsin for her years of service with Special Olympics Wisconsin. Deb has been a key volunteer in multiple roles for Special Olympics Wisconsin since 1987, volunteering over 1,000 hours annually. She describes how she first began volunteering as a coach and how her service has grown into taking on several leadership roles and supporting Wisconsin athletes with intellectual disabilities through coaching and volunteering for regional, state, national, and world competitions. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Deb has made a difference for individuals participating in Special Olympics programming and the memories she has made during her decades of dedicated service.

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