Volunteer Finds Passion for Community by Giving Back
Skip to Content
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

Volunteer Finds Passion for Community by Giving Back

Main Content

June 27, 2016

Written by Sara Blackburn, United Way Intern

Melinda Woltring fondly recalls the day she realized the importance of serving her community. “I was finishing up college and discussing my future plans with my current employer. When asked if I was interested in a career advancement within the company, I said ‘I want to find an employer I’m proud to work for.’ I didn’t realize it then, but at that moment I was laying the groundwork for my search to find a way to give back to my community.”

Today, it is clear Melinda made good on her personal goal. Over the last 15 years since that day, she has volunteered for YMCA Sponsor-A-Scholar program, Schools that Can, Milwaukee College Prep (Lloyd Street), Hunger Task Force, St. Mary's Church in Port Washington, Feeding America, Free to Breathe, Channel 10/36, Habitat for Humanity Milwaukee, Habitat for Humanity Global Village, Victory Gardens, Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation, Junior Achievement, and Wauwatosa Catholic Elementary School. In addition to her volunteering she also works three other jobs.  

Even so, her desire to volunteer remains strong. She says her time with the YMCA led her to fall in love with organizations that are devoted to building strong communities. She says it’s important for kids to have the opportunity to learn how to swim, dance, and interact with people of all ages, races, and abilities. She wants all adults to be able to learn to develop healthy lifestyles, meet new friends, and build supportive relationships with others in their community.

When asked where her passion for volunteering comes from, Melinda says she has always worked to be a role model for her seven younger siblings. “What motivates me are results. When I see people in caps and gowns, crossing a finish line, receiving awards, or just rejoicing in the success of hard work, I take a moment to reflect on how lucky I am to have worked hard to have achieve my own goals.”

Melinda continues to be an avid believer in the power of community involvement and volunteering. “If there is a chance I could be the light in someone's day just by showing up, how could I pass that up?”

What’s your moment? 

Share it with us. Or take this short quiz to find out how you can make a difference in our community.


About the Blogger

Sara Blackburn is the Brand Journalist Intern at United Way and a graduate student at Arizona State University. Sara enjoys writing stories of the programs and people making a positive impact on our community.


 

Have something to say? LEAVE A COMMENT:

The following required items were not provided or are in the wrong format. Please provide the required responses and submit again:

Your email address will not be published. All fields Required.

Name: 
  Please enter your name
  Please enter a valid email
Comment: 
  Please enter a comment

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukehsa County blog and social media presence is designed as a source for information, sharing and collaboration about United Way and health and human service related topics. As part of our commitment to our readers, we expect all posters to abide by the following rules:
 • Posts and comments should be on topic, conversational, and serve to educate or entertain  
 • Posts and comments may not be unlawful, fraudulent, threatening, libelous, defamatory, discriminatory, harassing, obscene or otherwise rude or in poor taste  
 • Posts and comments may not be used for any commercial purpose or otherwise to promote any outside organization or its activities
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County reserves the right, at our discretion, to remove any post or to revoke a user’s privilege to post to our page. Comments found to be in conflict with the guidelines above will be removed promptly.
Comments are not necessarily those of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and its employees and we do not guarantee the accuracy of these posts.