Joiner is KIMT’s February Volunteer of the Month

Cresco - Friends of Pat Joiner were not surprised to learn she had been nominated for KIMT TV’s February Giving Your Best Volunteer of the Month award, but she sure was!

“It is very important to help others,” Joiner told reporter Calyn Thompson, “I enjoy it. Thank you and thank Debbie (Hovey) for nominating me.”

Hovey explained to the reporter, “Pat is very deserving of this award. She never turns anyone down. Someday, if I retire, I hope to do half of what Pat does. She is always there to help.”

Pat’s husband, Larry, joked, “I think she volunteers to get out of the house to be away from me.” Don’t listen to him! He helps her out at times as well.

Pat has lived in Cresco since July 1987 and has shown how to be a real member of the community by helping out in any way possible.

In her nomination letter, Hovey stated, “Pat is a retired hairstylist who has a heart of gold and is the first to step up to help anyone in need.”

She noted Pat is on two church boards, delivers books from the library to the nursing homes and is on the RSVP Board (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). In addition, she is in charge of the Red Cross blood drive, delivers Meals on Wheels and helps manage the building,  dog sits for friends, is in the church choir and always helps with funerals and dinners.

Not to mention, Pat was on the Pennies for Play fund-raiser years ago, picks up shut-ins  and takes them to church, visits people in the nursing homes, is a greeter at the hospital, volunteers to cook/bake food to people who need it and delivers it, and she still finds time to babysit her great-grandchildren who live near Denver, Iowa whenever they need her!  

Hovey continued, “Pat belongs to Days for Girls Organization, which meets once a month to make hygiene kits for young girls in Third World countries. Joiners host a ‘Carol Sing’ at their home every December, which includes wonderful Norwegian treats and everyone packs their house full to the brim and join in singing Christmas carols with the piano music.”

With all that volunteering, Pat and Larry still find time to help host the Magical Mystery Tour car cruises.

Whew! That’s a lot of volunteering and having fun for one person!

And as Gwen Peter said to Pat after her interview, “It couldn’t have happened to a better person!”