BRAINERD — “Service to humanity is the best work of life.”
A core principal of the Jaycees was fittingly scrawled across the back of Abby Hanson’s sweatshirt on Wednesday, Nov. 13, when she was named Youth Volunteer of the Year by Brainerd Community Action.
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It’s an award given out each year, along with Nonprofit of the Year and Citizen of the Year. Hanson was the first of the trio to receive her honor, when she was surprised while volunteering at Common Goods Thrift Store in Brainerd.
“I’m very surprised, and I think it’s really cool,” Hanson said after receiving a box of donuts and gift bag from Dave Badeaux, executive director of Brainerd Community Action and mayor of Brainerd.
A 15-year-old sophomore at Brainerd High School, Hanson is the president of the Brainerd Junior Jaycees and volunteers in a multitude of ways around her community. Aside from donating her time to Common Goods, she’s getting ready to volunteer at Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen, has worked with her church to pack meals for those who need them and been a part of the Warrior Warehouse food pantry at Brainerd High School. She’s helped out with various Jaycees events, too, like the Ice Fishing Extravaganza, the Lil’ Rubber Duckie Race and Streetfest. Other volunteer initiatives include shoveling snow in northeast Brainerd and helping out with the Fourth of July parade and Frozen Fore.
“I like to give back to the community, and it makes me happy to see other people happy,” Hanson said.
For her dad, Dominic Hanson, the award was a source of pride and joy.
“I’m proud that my donation of time has kind of led her to want to do it, too,” he said. “It is a great feeling when you can volunteer, when you can donate stuff and make other people happy. It makes me happy to see that she’s happy doing it, too.”
Toni Bieser, who works with the kids in the Junior Jaycees program, said she’s seen Hanson grow and blossom into her own person and looking beyond herself.
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“She’s working in her community, and she’s become a leader,” Bieser said. “She’s a shining star that’s just starting to explode.”
And for Badeaux, it was the sheer amount of volunteer endeavors that made Hanson stand out.
“When you get someone that is involved in that many things, especially at this young age, it shows pretty quickly,” Badeaux said. “So I’m just really excited to have young people in our community that are doing that but also that they’re not just in one niche area, and they’re involved in all sorts of things. And that’s probably the most exciting thing about Abby.”
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at [email protected] or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
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