05/04/2026
Volunteers Honored for a Legacy of Care
75 years before, a group of women from area churches answered the call to assist at a local nursing home. November, 1951 their first meeting took place, organizing into the Shorehaven Service League, and operating on a balance of $26.85. They set to work stuffing mattresses, rendering lard, painting and varnishing floors, canning jelly and applesauce for residents, planting gardens and providing lilacs and lilies for landscaping the grounds. They organized bake and craft sales, made fancywork and aprons, took residents on strolls and “spread joy and blessings” throughout the facilities, said past president Sharon Manke.
75 years later that joy is still shared at Shorehaven, and Kris Gallert, manager of volunteer services, thanked the 100 plus volunteers gathered at Rockwell’s Restaurant Apr. 28 during the organization’s annual volunteer appreciation brunch. “75 years is more than just a number,” Gallert told volunteers. “It represents generations of kindness, compassion, and unwavering dedication. It tells the story of countless individuals who chose to give their time, their energy, and most importantly, their hearts to others.”
The Service League also presented a check for $13,000 to the Shorehaven Charitable Foundation to help offset cost of services to seniors. “From the residents, families, and staff of Shorehaven, I thank each and every one of you for the impact you make, but also for continuing this special volunteer legacy,” Gallert concluded.
