Linda Koeller volunteers at the Shawano Area Food Pantry and Resource Center (SAFPARC) and for St. Vincent de Paul.
Koeller lived in Chicago before moving to New London where she graduated from New London High School. Koeller earned a degree in business education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She did secretarial work, worked at a bank and held other jobs, including several years working at Pick N Save, before retiring.
Koeller and her husband of 43 years, Dave, a retired teacher, have five children and two grandchildren. They live in Shawano and are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Linda was on the preschool board and volunteered at Sacred Heart Catholic School when her children were students. She is a member of a group who gets together to make prayer shawls.
Q Where do you volunteer?
A “At SAFPARC and St. Vincent de Paul.”
Q What do you do at SAFPARC?
A “I work at the desk at the computer when the people first come in. We like the people to come in every two weeks. They should do that so there is enough for everybody. Some come once a month, and some come to supplement.”
Q What do you do at St. Vincent de Paul?
A “At St. Vincent de Paul, I’m one of a group, and we have an office at the food pantry. People come in on Tuesday if they need help with things like utility bills, rent, heat and things like that. There’s always a need. Sometimes people walk in and don’t have an appointment.
“Once a month, we go to Green Bay at the St. Vincent de Paul store and we sort things. We really are a throw away society, and it’s good that people recycle. All sales help people in Green Bay, and we get a portion of the funds. A couple times a year we go on Saturday mornings to work the registers. We work with another church from Green Bay. Some do registers, and some do bagging. Anybody can shop there. They have so much. They have all kinds of holiday things.”
Q How can people help?
A “Donations are always welcome at both places. People bring in food, and they can bring it in whenever we are open. Some families have donated furniture to St. Vincent de Paul, but we don’t have a store or place to put it. It would be nice if someone could volunteer themselves and their vehicle. We’d love to accept furniture because people need it.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I don’t like to see people hungry. I’ve got the time, and I enjoy working with the people who volunteer.”
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