Joyce Stalzer is a fine example of a Central Iowa product.  She was born, schooled, and then employed, all within the Marshalltown radius.  Joyce even met her husband and life-long volunteer partner, Mel, while dancing at a Marshalltown ballroom!  They were married in 1961.

     Joyce has been a Heartland Home-delivered Meals Volunteer for over 10 years.  When the meals came out of Colonial Manor, she was one of the chairpersons at St. Gabriel’s Church finding delivery volunteers for 3-month intervals.  Now that Heartland’s kitchen is cooking the meals, Joyce remains on the volunteer list, often delivering meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the homebound seniors in Zearing.

     Joyce was also instrumental in helping get the new Zearing/McCallsburg meal site off to a great start by encouraging and taking the Zearing reservations.  The site serves between 40-55 people twice a month, at the Zearing Christian Church and the Bethany Lutheran Church in McCallsburg.

    Stalzer volunteers in her community in many other ways.  This includes quilting for charitable organizations with her church group.  Heartland seniors in Adult Day Care and on the Heartland buses have been among the many recipients of this worthy work!   She is in charge of the local Blood Drive twice a year, donating for the Blood Center in Des Moines.  Joyce and Mel also head up the volunteers who fold and mail the local monthly newsletter, Zearing News and Country Journal. 

     In her free time, Stalzer enjoys sewing and the nearby joy of their 5 and ½ grandchildren. (Three out of four of the Stalzer offspring chose to settle in Central Iowa.. The fourth child flew away to New York City!)

     Thank you, Joyce and Mel, for your grassroots volunteer support that helps make your local community a thriving place to work, raise families and grow older together.  Heartland appreciates all you do for the seniors in northeast Story County.