GRAND RAPIDS — When the Let’s Go Fishing Itasca pontoon is out on the water, it’s a safe bet the man behind the wheel is David Roerick.
Roerick volunteers 20 hours of his time each week to the nonprofit organization, which creates fishing and boating opportunities for people with disabilities, older Americans and military veterans.
This dedication — alongside time spent volunteering with the Grace House of Itasca County, which provides temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness — brought Roerick recognition through the 2023 Itasca County Outstanding Volunteer Award.
"It did not take (the writer of the letter) long to realize the generosity and care of this man."Nomination letter for Dave Roerick
Lee Swenson, volunteer program coordinator with the Arrowhead Agency on Aging, evaluated nomination letters ahead of the “Celebrating Seniors” event earlier this month, hosted by Itasca County Family YMCA and ElderCircle. The event included a senior resource expo, music and a lunch serving about 400 senior citizens.
“He is a valuable volunteer,” Swenson said of Roerick. “As it says in a letter of support for his nomination, ‘It did not take (the writer of the letter) long to realize the generosity and care of this man.’ And how he serves people in the community ‘so joyfully, over and over again!’”
Let’s Go Fishing Itasca gets about 1,000 people out on frozen lakes or inland waters each year, according to ElderCircle. Roerick is involved in all aspects of the organization, including recruiting and training volunteers, maintaining the fish house and piloting the pontoon boat in the summer. He also serves as a board member.
At Grace House, Roerick volunteered 110 hours in 2022, including sometimes stepping into the overnight role and staying at the facility 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. He is a board member of this organization as well.
Other 2023 nominees
Also nominated for the award were Susan Mattson and Jill Schubert.
“These three nominees for the 2023 Itasca County Outstanding Volunteer Award are wonderful reminders that you and I don’t need to do everything, but how all of us needs to do something to help make this a better world,” Swenson wrote
Mattson has volunteered with Grand Itasca Volunteer Services since 2010, continuing to give four hours each week to the gift shop. Mattson helps train in new volunteers, goes on buying trips, plays an active part in volunteer luncheons and currently serves as president of volunteer services, ElderCircle reports. It was noted in her nomination that Mattson has the “natural ability to relate to everybody around her.”
Schubert volunteers to visit people weekly and is an active participant in the Groceries-to-Go program, which provides a grocery delivery service to people who are homebound.
“Jill has the ability to make every day better for others, as it says in her nomination form, ‘just by her being there,’” Swenson stated. “The world needs more volunteers like Jill who can make a difference in the community in which they live.
