Bernadine Rickert -October 2018 Volunteer

Bernadine Rickert… October Volunteer in the Spotlight 

We thank Bernadine over and over…. She makes the birthday cards that are sent out to care receivers from Faith in Action.

When did you became a volunteer for FIA and what volunteer positions have you chosen do?  

Some 25 years ago St. Patrick Church of Merna had an article in it’s bulletin from BroMenn:  Come Learn about Hospice.  It was a chance to learn something new.  So I went.  I became a volunteer that day.  I helped in the hospital, then in their homes.  I did mirror and glass etching and was asked to come up with something that could be given to the families as a remembrance of their loved one.  I etched the name with a design on a 2” mirror which was glued to a crocheted backing.  That lasted several years, it was Dina Oakes (FIA Volunteer) who partnered with me doing the crocheting.  That project ended last year after 23 years.

Why did you come to FIA?
Not liking the cost and verses in some greeting cards and now with time on my hands I began making my own greeting cards for family and friends.  Well, it was the beginning of Dec. 2017 and St. Pat’s was ready for their reverse collection.  That is instead of putting in the basket, we took out a slip of paper with the name of an organization who had needs.  The congregation buys the things, brings them to church, and volunteers deliver them for Christmas to the organization.  I got the food bank.  My daughter got Faith in Action.  Knowing some things about FIA I thought it was ALL volunteer run.  I said  “What would they be needing?”  I learned a bit more that day about FIA.  Among several items on their list was Birthday Cards.

Were you looking? 
Liking to do volunteer things from my home I decided to take a couple of my cards to the office to see if they were interested in my offer.  They liked them.   So I began.  Little did I know how many cards I’d be making.  It has been the most rewarding project for me.  I get to draw, be creative and have fun doing it.  I want each card to be the best, so it will make the person who gets it, really have a great day.  Sometimes my humor is added to cards.  What was a surprise was, that once again, Dina Oakes was partnered   with me.  For she is the person who addresses and makes sure the cards get to you.

As for words of Wisdom.

I never really thought about it.  But I would say,  Give thanks to the Lord each Day. Don’t think of everything as work, but as an accomplishment, then things we don’t like to do aren’t so bad.

 

How I got to Normal.

I was born and raised in Chicago.  Moved with my husband in 1961 to Normal.  That is when IAA built their first building here.  We always knew it was the only way to be Normal. Haha.  We have five sons and four daughters.  Did a lot of gardening and canning back then.

Hobbies. As for hobbies, I do some knitting and crocheting like prayer shawls, scarves for the needy or embroider Baptismal bibs for church.  I like to draw and read.   Sit in the choir at St. Pat’s.  I’m a Cubs fan….

We had a few pets, well the children did.  I don’t have nor want a pet now.