Lori Davis, of Dowagiac, is a longtime volunteer at the Holy Maternity of Mary Church in Dowagiac and the Dowagiac Area History Museum.

 

Q: How long have you been volunteering at the museum?

I don’t know exactly, but I’ve probably been volunteering at the museum for 18 to 20 years. (Several years ago) I was honored for 1,000 hours of volunteer work there. Now I’m only doing it every other week.

 

Q: What do you do for the museum?

I am at the entry desk greeting people and talking to them about the museum. I enjoy talking to people and talking about the different things that the museum has to offer. I also enjoy when the children come from the school, although I don’t work directly with them. Families will come in that had a grandpa or a great-grandpa that worked at the foundry and that is interesting too. Also, our Indian connection is very interesting to learn about.

 

Q: What do you do for the church?

My main thing there is the choir. I’ve sung in the church choir since I was in second grade. That’s my big love.

I mainly volunteer there with the group called HALO — Hope and Love Outreach. We do the desserts for their community lunch, which is once a month. I think I’ve been doing that for about 3 1/2 years. It is providing for the poor people that don’t have that many opportunities. It’s something special that they look forward to. They line up and have a number and get their lunch.

 

Q: Why do you spend so much time volunteering?

Actually, it is just the way I was raised. My mother and my grandmother did the same thing. I remember being with my grandma at rummage sales and bake sales and everything else when I was maybe six years old. It was just part of my upbringing. I love to give back for all I’ve been given.

 

Q: Why is volunteering important?

That’s what makes us come together. The closeness in our church — the people that go there, we all feel like brothers and sisters. We all want to do everything for the good of everyone. And the museum, too. It is part of the Dowagiac heritage even though I did not grow up in Dowagiac. I was in Paw Paw. I think that heritage is important to all of us.

 

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her as the volunteer of the week by calling Craig Haupert, community edtior, at (269) 687-7720, or emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.