When companies offer volunteer initiatives to their employees, people can sign up, do good, feel good, and understandably call it a day. They can walk away knowing that someone in their community was helped by their actions that day. It’s a glowing feeling that we all know and enjoy. For some people, retirement ends these volunteer efforts and life goes on – with relaxation and well-earned vacations on the horizon.
And then there are volunteers like Dale Wagner.
When Dale worked at Waukesha State Bank, he was encouraged to volunteer in the community through company initiatives. Through his company, he was introduced to many nonprofit organizations and enjoyed making a difference alongside his coworkers. His efforts didn’t stop when retirement was around the corner, though. He knew that he was doing good in the community, and he knew that he wanted to do more.
After Dale’s retirement, he continued to volunteer and eventually found an ongoing volunteer position at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. Since he was already familiar with United Way’s impact in Waukesha County, he decided to apply.
Every Wednesday, Dale joins us at our Milwaukee office to help our volunteer efforts. He works behind the scenes inventorying and valuing product donations from our community; preparing Diaper Bank deliveries to our Diaper Hubs; assembling and staging volunteer project supplies for workplace and Volunteer Center events; making sure our warehouse is organized; and jumping in on emerging needs. These activities add up to tremendous impact touching the lives of many in our community.
Dale has enjoyed volunteering his entire life and has served on several boards for nonprofit organizations, so he’s never been a stranger to the needs of the community. He likes the hands-on work that his Wednesdays bring him and appreciates the variety of help that he can give. Whether he’s getting school supplies ready for our Backpack Coalition, counting and packing diapers for our Diaper Bank, or getting Mary Lou’s Closet ready for its next season, he stays busy.
He also stays humble. “I don’t do this for the recognition,” Dale said, “I do it to help others.” When talking about Mary Lou’s Closet, United Way’s community closet which mobilizes items that provide basic need items for youth, he recounted why this initiative means a lot, stressing that the donations help children who are going without these basic needs. “It’s stuff we take for granted; socks, underwear, stuff we have.”
Dale is an inspiring example of volunteerism, and we love to see him around the office every Wednesday. We’re thrilled to recognize him as an awardee for all his hard work during our Volunteer Recognition Awards breakfast on April 19th. Dale’s continued volunteer efforts remind us that to live better, we must Live United.
Interested in volunteering as an individual or as group?
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