Julie Dunn Earns AARP Nebraska’s Highest Volunteer Award for Community Service

Julie Dunn, a long-time community volunteer in Bennington, is the 2015 recipient of AARP Nebraska’s highest volunteer award. She is the 14th volunteer to be honored with the annual AARP Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service since it was established in 2002.

Dunn’s charity, Bennington Lions Club, is a big winner, too. AARP Nebraska presented the organization with a check for $2,500 on behalf of Dunn, who has held several leadership positions with the Nebraska Lions Foundation and Bennington Lions Club.

The world’s largest service club organization, Lions Club International is best known for fighting blindness, but also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects – including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled. In the past year, Dunn successfully organized the club to raise more than $4,000 for a Bennington boy who needed a glass eye.

“The gift of the glass eye helped build this young person’s confidence and changed his outlook. This is just one example of Julie’s dedicated, tireless and inspiring volunteer work to create positive change and improve the lives of our community members,” said Miriam Sukraw, who nominated Dunn for the award. “Julie is passionate to help the less fortunate and people in need. She has opened the possibility for many volunteers to experience the powers they have through the giving of time, talent and treasure for the benefit of others. She is a true role model of volunteerism.”

As a volunteer leader and organizer, Dunn has created new programs that are sustained by additional volunteers and donors. She offers support and connections to resources for people in need; works to alleviate hunger by operating a mini food bank from her basement; coordinates efforts to supply frozen meals to those in crisis situations; arranges social events, meals and free activities for the elderly and others; offers rides to seniors and persons with disabilities to medical appointments and church services; and provides mentoring to individuals facing financial challenges who seek advice and educational resources.

In addition to the Bennington Lions Club, Dunn volunteers for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Bennington Historical Society. She helped start several ministries including Cooks for Christ and Wheels for Christ, and conducts weekly worship services for people living in in the Ridgewood Retirement Community and the Benn View Senior Living Center in Bennington. Dunn also teaches the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course at her church and served on the Bennington City Council from 2013-2015.

“I accept this award as a member of AARP and on behalf of the numerous citizens of Bennington who are more worthy of this award.  I am humbled by the wonderful, kind nomination Miriam made.  She is one of those volunteers,” Dunn said.

“Volunteerism doesn’t just happen. There are many factors that inspire a person to volunteer. As a volunteer, I know that I am grounded in faith, grew up with parents who served as role models, and was married to an extraordinary and super volunteer for 22 years.  I have been blessed with good health, time and family support.  Talented and helpful people have shared their time and talents to support my volunteer efforts.  I choose to use my finances and make personal concessions to be rewarded with a smile of appreciation and a sincere “thank you.” I enjoy the challenge of identifying a need and creating a solution. Volunteering allows me the opportunity to make friends with beautiful people who need help with life’s basic needs and perhaps restoration of dignity and self-esteem.”

Dunn added: “I have to share the agony I experienced trying to decide which group would be the recipient of this very generous award. At the local level is Bennington Historical Society, Veterans Park, the city or school foundation, St Johns Church or one of its outreach ministries, Western Douglas County Food Bank, Open Door Mission, Shriners and multiple other service groups that I share my time and resources with.  I finally decided that the Bennington Lions Club had the motto that would allow the greatest flexibility to use this gift for the greater good, “We Serve”.

Bob Eppler, state president of AARP Nebraska, praised Dunn for her commitment to volunteering.

“Through her astounding record of service, Julie Dunn demonstrates what it means to make a difference in the lives of others. The Andrus Award acts as a symbol to the public that we can all work together for positive social change,” Eppler said. “AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions volunteers make to their communities, neighbors and the programs they serve.”

The AARP Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service – and an oversized check for $2,500 to Bennington Lions Club – was formally presented on Oct. 20.

Andrus Award recipients across the nation were chosen for their ability to enhance the lives of AARP members and prospective members, improve the community in or for which the work was performed, and inspire others to volunteer.

Photo by Ryann Lynn