Sandy Staszak volunteers at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Bonduel.
Born and raised in Bonduel, Staszak graduated from Bonduel High School. She worked at Aid Association for Lutherans and Northern Shoe Factory until she married Ron and they farmed. After Ron was killed in a farm accident in 1982, she continued to farm with the help of her four sons until 1997, when she moved into Bonduel. She has nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
For 10 years, Staszak worked at the Cecil Diner doing prep work and baking pies, and also did personal care for others like shopping and cleaning. She enjoys watching baseball.
Q Where do you volunteer?
A “I help at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School and Wolf River Lutheran High School. I am on the Shawano County Nutrition Council. We vote on certain items and it’s about the meals that go to the elderly and homebound.”
Q What do you do at the church?
A “It started years ago when a pastor had an 11 a.m. communion service and he had an appointment. He said he would have to come back and clean up later. I said I would do it, and now I’ve been doing that service all the time. I set it up and take it down.
“On the Altar Guild, there are six of us who set up for communion on Sunday. We fill wine glasses and change the paraments so the altar looks nice.
“The Ladies Aid serves for funerals and we have monthly meetings. On Nov. 8 we will have a table of food and greeting cards for sale. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, there is a Young at Heart communion service at 11 a.m. We’re going to provide dinner for them. We’re trying to get more people involved.
“I’m on the finance committee. Every other month a group of us record the envelopes. I fold church bulletins. We have a group who helps every Friday. I also take care of the memorabilia cabinet and line up calls for the pastor’s home visits.”
Q What do you do for the school?
A “I get the Friday Note (a school newsletter) and run them off and put labels on them and give them to the kids to take home. It’s information for the parents. If the secretary is sick or needs to leave, they will call me to sit in the office for a few minutes to answer the phone and do little errands. If I’m here, I do it. I just volunteer when somebody needs help.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I like being busy because I was a farmer. It’s rewarding and peaceful. When you come here, you lose your outside problems.”
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