Suzanne Sater, of Niles, helps with numerous fundraisers for several organizations that her children participate in, including Niles Elite Cheerleading, Brandywine Rocket Football and Niles FOP Baseball. Her 15-year-old daughter, Alexus Irwin, participates in Niles Elite Cheerleading. Her son, Cainen Irwin, 9, does Brandywine Rocket Football and FOP baseball. She said volunteering sets a good example for her children and that her daughter has been helping with concessions at FOP baseball.

Q: In what ways do you volunteer?

I volunteer at the Niles Haunted House to help with the Niles Elite Cheerleading team. I also help at the Notre Dame concessions for Brandywine Rocket Football for the Brandywine School District. Right now that is all I’m doing, but I also volunteered down at the FOP for baseball, helping do the concessions for them. I usually volunteer every weekend — there is always something going on.

Q: Why do you choose to volunteer?

I think it is important to get out there and help. They (these organizations) need help so I feel like I need to do it for my kids because the kids can’t do it. I have free time, so it feels like the right thing to do to help them out.

Q: Why should people volunteer?

It is a great way to get involved with the community. It is also important to volunteer because if someone sees you volunteering, there is a good chance that they will join in and volunteer too. Then you will have more volunteers out there, which makes it easier on everyone else. There isn’t just one person out there doing everything.

Q: What did you do at the Haunted House?

This is my first year volunteering there. It was a very different experience, but I enjoyed it because I knew I was out there helping them (the Haunted House) and the cheerleading team at the same time. It was fun. I dressed up as a zombie and I hid in the back corner. Then I would come out and scare people. I also had to pull a lever when people came through. It would make a hand slap the window and scare people over to my side of the area. Then I would come out and scare them.

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