The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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September 4, 2009

Volunteers get statewide recognition

Locals Wayne Sandee and Marge Pribyl honored at State Fair

By Brian Ojanpa

MANKATO — Like most people who are tireless in their voluntary service to others, Wayne Sandee sees nothing unusual about his efforts.

“I can’t think of a reason why not to do it,” the 73-year-old Mankatoan said of volunteerism pursuits that have earned him the male 2009 Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award.

The statewide competition run by the Minnesota Board on Aging annually cites a male and female and presents the awards at the Minnesota State Fair.

This year there were 102 nominees from 55 counties. The female state winner was Marge Pribyl, representing Le Sueur County, who has been instrumental in the success of a Waterville-Elysian food shelf.

The female nominee from Blue Earth County was Pat Glade, whose volunteer work includes delivering Hot Meals on Wheels and working with the disabled and the vulnerable.

Sandee figures he works 25 to 30 hours a week in his volunteer roles, which include but aren’t limited to regular visits to dependent adults, delivering meals to shut-ins and elderly residents, and working in the Neighborhood Thrift Store, which he helped create and develop.

“He does so much, and after hours he’ll go and do more,” said Neighborhood Thrift Store manager Ruth Koestler.

The store receives donated bakery products from local supermarkets four times a week. Wayne and wife Carol help pick them up and get them to thrift store customers.

They take any extra products to another non-profit organization, House of Hope.

Koestler said Sandee remains self-effacing about his work.

She said when he perused her senior award nomination letter listing his contributions at the store, he said, “Wow, I guess I need to step it up.”

Sandee taught social work courses at Minnesota State University and retired in 1994.

“This just feels like a natural extension of that,” he said of his efforts helping others.

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