close
| Giving season goes on year-round for 93-year-old volunteer |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Todd Mishler/Walworth County Sunday |
| Wednesday, 16 November 2011 15:34 |
 Doris Mesenbrink lays out pieces for a quilt project in her Lake Geneva home. At 93, Mesenbrink is constantly busy sewing, knitting and crocheting items that she donates to a homeless shelter and other charities. Todd Mishler/staff photo. (Read the full story in the e-edition HERE.) LAKE GENEVA — She’s a self-admitted homebody these days, and needy people around Walworth County are much happier and warmer because of her efforts. Doris Mesenbrink has been sewing, knitting and crocheting most of her 93 years. However, she’s used those talents significantly more since she and her late husband, Paul, moved to Lake Geneva in 1991. That’s because Mesenbrink is a true example of volunteering at work — most of her quilts, hats, mittens, scarves, bibs and doll clothes are donated to those less fortunate. Beneficiaries of Mesenbrink’s creations — predominately made from scratch, but she finishes and fixes some items — include the Twin Oaks Homeless Shelter, the Lake Geneva Public Library’s holiday tree and First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Most of her handiwork is coordinated through a joint effort of Volunteer Connection (formerly RSVP) and the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services through its Holiday Care program. Regardless of who benefits, the Libertyville, Ill., native deflects any praise and simply does it because she loves to. “I don’t want people to think that I buy all of this material and everything; most of it is donated,” Mesenbrink said. “A lot of people have helped me. And I don’t do everything by hand, because I have a friend with a (sewing) machine that helps with some of the quilts. “I’ve done this most of my life, and I don’t get around as much because I don’t hear so well anymore, but I need to be constantly busy. I like to feel like I’m doing something worthwhile and don’t like to waste my time.” That’s for sure. Mesenbrink works at the local blood bank every two months, taking advantage of her 52 years of experience as a registered nurse, and she and Paul volunteered at the food pantry. Nobody knows how much Mesenbrink’s time and talents are appreciated better than Patti O’Brien. She has been the executive director of Volunteer Connection, located at the Walworth County Government Center in Elkhorn, for nearly 12 years. “Doris is just amazing,” O’Brien said. “We’ve received carloads of her things over the years. She’s contributed more than 5,500 hours since starting with the organization in 1997. “If ever there’s a need, she’s always willing to help somebody else. She’s like the Energizer Bunny, working on her projects all day. Doris inspires us.” Mesenbrink is one of only dozens of good Samaritans around the county, individuals whose efforts are most welcome during the holiday season, a time meant for caring and sharing, especially while so many people continue to struggle through tough economic times. John Hembrook has managed Twin Oaks for almost 19 years, and he knows what volunteers like Mesenbrink mean for residents of the 90-day emergency shelter. “I’ve been here since 1993, and we’ve been a lot busier since about 2000,” Hembrook said. “The demand (for our services) always is there, so we’re always full and always have a waiting list. With about 99 percent of our residents, we supply the beds and bedding, but when we can get quilts donated, that’s always great.” Mesenbrink often takes her items to the shelter located on the Walworth/Rock county line. But the bulk of her time is spent in her working room, which is stuffed with materials, buttons and other supplies, all potentially a small part of something that will be turned into another one of her amazing items. They are then sorted and piled into another bedroom awaiting delivery. She’s used men’s ties and pieces of pants to make small quilts — with flannel on the back — to create knee/lap warmers, especially appreciated by those in wheelchairs. Other quilts have included the same material from which old flour and feed sacks were made. And she’s used fabric from New Zealand to make doll clothing. And those who coordinate Volunteer Connection and the Holiday Care program couldn’t be happier. The latter effort provided donations of toys, clothing and food certificates for 829 Walworth County families last year, including nearly 1,150 children. “I usually have several projects going at once,” said Mesenbrink, who still cooks and even canned her own applesauce this year, “but everything is made with high-quality fabric and materials.” Mesenbrink said some projects have proved difficult, but the important and challenging part is meeting people’s needs. “I would much rather give people something than just donating money,” she said. “The whole idea of helping people can become contagious, if you show them how.”
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email this
Hits: 371 Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
