Two Effingham County Residents Chosen as Governor's Volunteer Service Award Recipients

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Published on April 2 2019 11:11 am
Last Updated on April 2 2019 11:11 am
Written by Greg Sapp

One older adult and one teenager, both from Effingham County, have been named 2019 recipients of the Governor's Volunteer Service Award.

(SUSAN ELKE)

Susan Elke, a tireless worker on behalf of FISH Human Services, and Elizabeth Weidner, who is being honored for her work for the University of Illinois Extension Service, are the local recipients.

Susan and her husband Ralph moved to Effingham in June 1992 and began volunteering in the community a few months later. Susan has been a longtime member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and has given well over 14,500 hours of service to area non-profits during her time with RSVP. 

Susan started her volunteer service by delivering Meals on Wheels and driving individuals to medical appointments through the FISH organization. Through her contacts with clients, she noticed many of them did not have family close by and Thanksgiving, in particular, was a lonely time. Susan organized a Community Thanksgiving Dinner available to anyone in Effingham County and also recruited volunteers to deliver meals to the homebound. 

In addition, Susan helps with the FISH Christmas Store, the Community Christmas Dinner and organizes a school supply drive each summer to provide underprivileged youth with school supplies. Susan is current Co-President of the FISH organization, is the Secretary/Treasurer on the Midland Area Agency on Aging Board, Treasurer for NAMI of Southern Illinois, and President of the RSVP Advisory Council.

(ELIZABETH WEIDNER)

A freshman at Teutopolis High School, Elizabeth Weidner is the daughter of Matthew and Jennifer Weidner and sister of Ethan, Eric and Evan. She has been involved with 4-H for six years and held a variety of leadership positions. Elizabeth was the first member in Illinois to use technology for judging her projects at the County/State level due to cancer. Most recently, she completed the training in "Speaking for Illinois 4-H" while in treatment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Despite her disease, Elizbeth has taken leadership skills gained in 4-H projects such as citizenship, communications, leadership and health to advocate at the local/state/federal levels. One project she designed this past year donated an estimated 50,000 personal care, food and drink items to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in St. Louis for families' use. Her platform "Crowns Fight Cancer" was formed as a direct result of the skills gained through the 4-H program, community groups she's belonged to, and her titles and awards from the county fair, Miss America and American Cancer Society Beauty of Hope pageants.

Elizabeth is involved with the national docuseries titled "The Promise" about the truth behind childhood cancer. She continues to inspire, motivate and advocate for those affected by the disease. Her motto: she's "just a girl changing the world, one rhinestone at a time."