BROOKINGS – The Helpline Center recently announced that Don Seeley has been named the January 2021 Volunteer of the Month, an area-wide award program sponsored by the Helpline Center and First Bank & Trust. 

Seeley started volunteering with the Salvation Army of Brookings County in October 2020, and he has made such a big impact since then. He jumped all in, calling them up looking for opportunities and following through with volunteering for Share the Warmth. 

As a first-time volunteer with the event, he helped all three days doing various activities and multiple shifts. He worked non-stop to help make the event a success. He also willingly did anything asked of him.

The Share the Warmth coordinator said that, “Don had a tool for everything.” After the event was done, Samantha Turnquist of The Salvation Army called on him a couple of times and asked if he could do some things around the office. 

Since then, he has spent hours in the office hanging up multiple items, getting the place in order, and helping to create a more welcoming environment. He donated a new coat rack, disassembled the old one, assembled the new one, and hung up the items on the new one. Turnquist recently ran into him when she was ringing at Walmart and he even picked up a bell and started to ring with her until her shift was over. 

“He’s only been with us for a couple of months, but he has made such a big impact!” Turnquist said.

For information on volunteer opportunities or the Volunteer of the Month program, contact Allison Schmitt at bkvol@helplinecenter.org or call 211 for more information.