LIMA — Angie Herzog treats volunteering like a job.
Leaving the house at 8 a.m., it’s expected she won’t be home until dinner. But that’s how it’s always been since she retired from her job as director of Marimor Industries — a position she held for 14 years.
“She sees there’s so much to do in Allen County and Northwest Ohio,” Long-time friend and Jefferson Award nominator, Connie Diller said. “There’s always room for more volunteers, and she feels very strongly the need to do things for someone else.”
The list of services and organizations that Herzog volunteers for is an extensive one. She plays with the Lima Area Concert Band, volunteers as a CASA, or court-appointed special advocate for children, chartered the Marimor Legacy Foundation, serves on the board of St. Vincent DePaul, helps out at the organization’s food pantry, takes part in the Lima Exchange Club and works as Volunteer Guardian. Most recently, Herzog added to her volunteerism list and jump-started a music ministry at Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center to play music for hospital patients.
Those that know her took notice, and as a result, she received three nominations to receive a Jefferson Award.
But while her volunteerism list is long, Herzog connects all the things she does with one simple summary. She just wants to bring joy.
“I guess I just have a heart for people,” Herzog said. “At the food pantry, I want people to be able to eat. With those kids, I want to be a voice for those kids, to be able to say to the magistrate, this is what they’re saying to me. Adults with disabilities tend to be a group that is hurt easily, I want to be an advocate to protect these individuals and help them.
“We’re not often smiling in our world so I just want to bring some smiles,” Herzog explained.
Like many other Jefferson Award winners, Herzog said she was humbled by the thought that all three nominators gave her, and she encourages others to give volunteering a chance by opening their hearts to the experience.
“I think you need to be open to something. First you need to say, I’m open to doing something more. I didn’t jump into CASA the first time I heard about it. I saw the commercials and thought, ‘that sounds very interesting.’” Herzog said. “It wasn’t just one time. If people just open their hearts and listen, they’ll find something.
“It doesn’t hurt to try, and see what it does for you.”
“Because everyone asks for volunteers, you can’t do them all. But if everyone picked one, that ‘d be awesome,” she said.
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