Stillwater's Lorie Etter Receives FamilyMeans' Highest Honor for Volunteerism

Stillwater resident Lorie Etter recently received Grace B. Stoltze award, which is the highest honor given to volunteers for remarkable service.

The award is named after Grace B. Stoltze, one of the agency’s founders who herself recognized the importance of volunteerism.

Etter began volunteering at FamilyMeans in 2002 when she catalogued and organized the agency’s educational and resource materials. Since then, she has volunteered more than 3,000 hours in a wide variety of volunteer roles. 

“Lorie’s presence as a volunteer has been an extraordinary gift at FamilyMeans,” said Margaret Irwin, volunteer and Day Out! coordinator. “She brings energy, enthusiasm, generosity, wisdom and compassion with her in everything she does.” 

Over the years Etter has been involved in the agency’s Caregiver Support program. She has been a respite volunteer with the agency and also through the AmeriCorps team with FamilyMeans where volunteers her time with children and adults of all ages who have disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Etter was instrumental in coordinating the annual Poinsettia Sale in which proceeds raised benefited the Caregiver Support program. 

Most recently, she has taken on a lead volunteer position with FamilyMeans’ Day Out! program, a respite care option for family caregivers. The participants and volunteers of Day Out! enjoy activities from crafts, songs, exercise and games every Friday for four hours at a time.

Etter is an ardent supporter of FamilyMeans’ annual fundraising events such as Power of the Purse, the Wine Tasting event and the St. Croix Garden Tour where she has served as a coordinator. 

“Lorie has been a wonderful ambassador,” Irwin said. “She puts her talents to use in ways that add to our programs such as decorating the room for Day Out! so it coordinates with the theme of the week. She is creative and great at sharing new ideas to keep things fresh.”

In 2011, FamilyMeans benefited from the time and talent of about 325 volunteers who provided 17,117 hours of service.