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Volunteer Spotlight
Nancy and George
Clark with special friend, Ida Viola
George and Nancy Clark
HSS Home-delivered Meal
Volunteers
George
and Nancy Clark have been delivering meals for Heartland Senior
Services for a
number of years, thanks to a referral from the Retired Senior and
Volunteer
Program. Over the years they have
delivered meals to the homebound in Gilbert, rural Ames,
Cambridge
and
Kelley communities. They also deliver
Meals on Wheels in Ames for the Mary Greeley Medical
Center
through their church affiliation.
Even
more striking than their volunteer availability is the Clarks'
compassionate interest in the participants they serve. To
many of the seniors on their delivery
route, the food is secondary to the interesting conversation and care
that
permeates a Clark visit. The feeling is mutual. “We
are so thankful to have these seniors in
our lives,” explains Nancy. “What a joy to link with people of our
parents’ generation; that's what this opportunity does for us.”
The
Clarks have lived in Ames
nearly all their lives. They met as children here, and even attended
the same
homeroom at Ames
High School. But it wasn’t until mid-college years that
they actually started to date. The 50’s
decade was a whirlwind for them; Nancy’s
graduation
from ISU, their marriage, Nancy’s teaching job in Perry, George’s tour
as a
pilot in the Air Force/Korean War, George’s Law Degree from Iowa, and the
birth of their three children. In 1959
they returned to Ames
and George
joined his
father’s law firm.
Nancy has
approached volunteering
as a life-long pursuit. She has been
involved
in numerous projects with Mary Greeley Auxiliary, Ames Swimming
Programs, RSVP,
P.E.O., the United Church of Christ Congregational, Ames Public Library
Board,
and has been active in supporting her political party and serving at
the
election polls.
George
has been Director of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, Director of the
Story County
American Red Cross Board, a founding member of the Mary Greeley
Foundation
Board, Ames Park Commissioner, member of the Park and Recreation Board,
Director
of the Friends of Ames Swimming Board, President of the Ames Noon
Kiwanis, and
has served several terms as Deacon and Trustee for the United Church of
Christ
Congregational. He and Nancy have both
worked as volunteers for the Special Olympics and the Iowa Games each
year. “As long-time Ames
residents, we feel an obligation and desire to be involved in community
service,” explains Nancy.
“It is simply payback for all
the pluses of living here.”
The Clarks’ list of hobbies is
as extensive as
their hearts. Together they participate
in outdoors activities, are avid bird watchers, Cyclone enthusiasts,
active
grandparents of five, and involved in RSVP’s Pen Pal project with Nevada Middle School. Through
the years George has enjoyed hunting, fishing, piloting and reading
pursuits. Nancy
adds yard work, bread making, knitting, and playing the piano to the
mix. They both admit they have had a
blessed life.
And
through these lives, we have all been blessed. Thank you, Clarks, for a
lifetime
of giving to our community!
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