Helen Raddant is the president of Home and Community Education.
She was born in Gillett, graduating from Gillett High School. She worked at the canning factory there during high school and after she graduated. She married Allen Raddant and moved to Shawano, where she was the activity assistant at Birch Hill for more than 22 years. Then Raddant worked at Curves for eight years, and for the last four years as the activity director at Paiser’s Oakhaven.
Helen and Allen were married 43 years before his death in 2012. They have three children and one grandchild. She lives in the town of Waukechon and enjoys crafts and watching her granddaughter during her ice-skating competition.
Q What is HCE?
A “It stands for Home and Community Education. However, in 1980, when I joined, it was known as Shawano County Homemakers. We are considered off-campus students of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Any person residing in Shawano County interested in the improvement of home and community life can join.”
Q Why do you belong?
A “We receive lessons through the UW-Extension office given by Family Living Educator Nancy Schultz. Subjects are related to home, family and community. These lessons are given at the courthouse and at the Methodist church in Bonduel eight to nine times a year. We become involved with community improvement activities. People make friends. Presently we have 10 clubs throughout the county, plus we have several individual members. As president, I work with the members to gain knowledge for making things better in our county. I attend district and state meetings along with two or three other ladies.”
Q What types of things do you do for the county?
A “We are involved in Patti Pumpkin Seed, where we give out seeds to all the first-graders in Shawano County. They plant the seeds, take care of them and display them at the fair. We are involved with Wisconsin Bookworms, where we read nine times a year at Shawano Head Start, Bonduel Bear Cubs and Stockbridge. Each child gets his or her own book. A scholarship is given to a college student from Shawano County every year. We make infant carrier covers and sleep sacks for the obstetrics department at Shawano Medical Center. Food pantries throughout the county receive not only food items but also personal need items. We are involved at the Shawano Farmers Market doing a bake sale, and we also do the brat stand at Charlie’s County Market as fundraisers to purchase the books and giving scholarships. Once a year we get together with Waupaca County to do a day of learning. This year, Shawano County will be hosting it on Oct. 27.”
Q What is happening on April 16?
A “Our yearly International Night will be on Thursday, April 16, at the Civic Center. Our speaker for the evening will be Dr. Gomal Abdel-Azim. He received his Ph.D. from Iowa State. He is employed at CRI as a research geneticist, a position he has had for 15 years. He travels back to Egypt on occasion and works from Cairo during the summer months. He is a great resource of Middle Eastern culture and will dispel many myths that we may have. Refreshments that are known to his country will be served after his presentation.”
The program begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Shawano Civic Center, 225 S. Main St. The presentation is free and open to the public.
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