Volunteer of the Week: Cathy Feirick
Published 9:24 am Thursday, April 24, 2014
Feirick, of Dowagiac, works as switchboard operator at Southwest Michigan College Dowagiac. She volunteers for the Cass County Relay for Life and her church, Keehler Church of God.
Cathy Feirick
Q: What do you do for Relay for Life?
I was chair of the event for two years in the past. I’ve been on the committee for about 10 years now. This year I am the luminaria chair and I’ve been a team captain in the past.
Q: How did you get involved with Relay for Life?
When I started working at SMC, our department was in charge of the SMC Relay for Life team and I helped out with that.
Q: What has your experience been like as a volunteer?
There is a lot of happy times and a lot of sad times at relays, remembering loved ones that have passed. Every time I hear someone that gets a new medicine or a new treatment I think to myself that maybe I helped raise money for that research for that. It makes you feel good, makes you feel happy that you might have done that.
Q: As luminaria chair, what are your responsibilities?
I will be planning and putting on the luminaria ceremony. I have been the chair of that in the past also. It is a very moving ceremony and one I feel should be very heartfelt for the remembrance of loved ones who have passed from cancer. It is hard to express how you feel. People that come to that — they just like to remember. It is very emotional because people have shed a lot of tears and give out a lot of hugs. I think it really does a good job of helping us remembers those that have gone on from cancer.
Q: Where else do you volunteer?
I also volunteer at Keehler Church of God. My husband and I sponsor the Easter egg hunt every year. This year we filled almost 3,700 eggs. We help with the youth group. We’ve been at that church for about 11 years.
Q: Why is it important to volunteer?
It makes you feel good to help other people. Sometimes when you do all the work for volunteering it can feel like a lot of work and you get tired. But, at the end of it all, when you see someone that you’ve helped or that’s had a good time — it makes it worth it and makes you feel good.
Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate them as a volunteer of the week by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.
