It is National Volunteer week and northeastNOW is featuring community volunteers who go above and beyond all year round.
Melfort’s Pat Rumberger has spent countless hours as a volunteer in the region over the years and finds it difficult to narrow down everything she has given her time to.
“People who volunteer don’t do it for recognition but to improve life in their community for others and make it a place for people to want to live in,” Rumberger said.
In recent years, she focuses on volunteering for the North East SPCA, which she said is near and dear to her heart.
“It has been about seven or eight years with the NESPCA. I have been on the board but mainly involved with fundraising,” Rumberger said.
Rumberger has been able to help out with North East Outreach and Support Services in the past, she is the administrator for the ‘Share it Forward Melfort’ Facebook page, canvassing for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and helping with the Melfort Mustangs organization.
Watching her parents volunteer around the community of Naicam is what inspired Rumberger to do the work that she has done over the years and continues to do.
“If you want something to happen or to succeed, the best thing to do is to jump in as a volunteer and help to get it done,” Rumberger said.
Highlights from her volunteer career include helping to fundraise for playground equipment at Brunswick School in Melfort, the Saskatchewan Winter Games when they came to Melfort in 2006, and the building of the Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter.
“It has been all very worthwhile,” Rumberger said. “Sometimes it is tough to take that first step and ask if you are new to a community but it might be the best step you ever take.”
She encouraged more people to get involved as a volunteer in their area of interest as Melfort has numerous volunteer opportunities.
Rumberger is currently being kept busy with fundraising efforts for the NESPCA which she said has been quite the challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The drive by BBQ’s were successful so we will do another one this spring,” Rumberger said.
Pat Rumberger is part of the NESPCA fundraising group. Left to right: Marianthe Strydom, Pat Rumberger, Johanna Hnatiuk, and Jan Beuker. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)Online ticket sales have been popular as most events can go forward, which includes the current Mother’s Day raffle and an upcoming Father’s Day raffle.
Online auctions through Facebook have also been happening and the group recently wrapped up an online auction through Bruce Schapansky Auctions.
The fundraising group has been able to bring over $14,000 over the past year.
“The SPCA gets absolutely no government funding. The running of it depends totally upon donations and fundraising,” Rumberger said. “It is vital and we are very thankful for the support we get.”
Other volunteers around Melfort also deserve a shoutout this week, said Rumberger.
At the shelter, there is a volunteer maintenance person, Wayne Neilson, that dedicates a couple of days a week donating time which Rumberger wanted to make special mention. Other volunteers of note for Rumberger are Johanna Hnatuik who helps out with fundraising, five-year-old Ally Haroldson who spends time at the shelter helping out and Bill Wood.
“[Wood] helps out with the NESPCA website and he just did the Melfort Museum website too,” Rumberger said. “He volunteers with the Melfort Golf and Country Club and Donor’s Choice.”
She mentioned Peggy George for her community involvement as well as Brenda Orr for her work with her CatSask Rescue.
“All I can say is don’t be shy about volunteering,” Rumberger said. “It’s a great way to meet people, it sets a good example for people around you and it might encourage them to start volunteering.”
A special thank you also went out to the members of the community and businesses for their ongoing support of the NESPCA.
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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser
