Each month, Eagle Radio in Great Bend will recognize groups or individuals that make a big impact on our community. This Appreciation Month is highlighting volunteers.
By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Laura Straub lived on the edge of the Great Bend city limits as a child and her family had all sorts of livestock on their 1.5 acres of land. Straub was an active member of 4-H for 11 years while growing up. Her grandfather, a sheep farmer from Hodgeman County, gave Laura her first sheep for competition. Volunteering was something she grew up with being part of 4-H but was never given much thought as a child.
“Volunteering was always part of a requirement through 4-H,” said Straub. “As a
kid, I did not make that connection of the importance of helping experience
more kindness.”
Straub now fully gets the importance of volunteering as she is part of the Volunteers In Action Advisory Council in Barton County. Volunteers In Action is
sponsored by Barton Community College and encourages volunteerism in all areas
of the community as it helps non-profits build their capacity through utilizing
volunteers.
“I started delivering for Meals on Wheels about 10 years ago,” said Straub. “My
workload had me traveling to Madison, Wisconsin so frequently that I had to
give it up.”
Straub is currently the marketing manager at Cuna Mutual Retirement Solutions
in Great Bend. In her 33rd year with Cuna Mutual, Straub started as
a receptionist and has worked in sales, graphic design and marketing.
Cuna Mutual has a community relations site leader to help foster community
engagement from its employees. Straub took over the role in 2018 and started
getting involved with Meals on Wheels once again.
“After a year in this role, I asked Linn Hogg (Volunteers In Action Director)
if I could be on the advisory board to better serve the needs of Great Bend
without trying to guess what they were.”
Laura has nephews from Florida that usually come to Kansas to stay with the
Straubs. Trying to pass on the importance of volunteering, Straub has her now
teenage-aged nephews help with Meals on Wheels when they are here.
“It truly is better to give than to receive,” said Straub. “Sometimes just
pausing to listen can impact someone’s life for positive change.”
Not only does Straub believe volunteering is the right thing to do, but it can
also develop relationships and bonds you would never expect.
“Just this last winter, one of my residents on the Meals on Wheels route was
trying to remove the snow from her car,” said Straub. “I was so fearful that something
was going to happen to her. I said, ‘Can I please do that for you?’ I scraped
her car off and that started a friendship.”
The lady whom Straub helped remove the snow from the car ended up moving to
another house in Great Bend. Straub and her church pastor spent a day helping
the woman packing her belongings.
“She really didn’t know who to turn to for help, and she couldn’t do it
herself,” said Straub. “She and I have stayed in contact. We’ll both text each
other.”
Straub and the rest of the Volunteers In Action Advisory Council meet every other
month to talk about the needs of the community and determine how many
volunteers are needed for upcoming events.
“You tend to see the same people volunteering over and over again,” said
Straub. “If people could realize, it doesn’t take that much of your time. It
can be as little as one hour of your day. How often do we spend four hours sitting
in front of our televisions? There is definitely a need for more volunteers.”
There is plenty of need for volunteers in a variety of areas in the Great Bend
and Barton County area, but Straub says assisting elderly citizens resonates
with her.
“Helping the elderly is my passion,” said Straub. “Sometimes, I feel they are
the most forgotten.”
To get involved with Volunteers In Action call 620-792-1614 or email Linn Hogg
at [email protected]. Visit their website at bartonccc.edu/getinvolved/via.
Read the previous Appreciation Month stories by clicking HERE.