Column: Amanda Weiss, Live United

Hello Everyone! My name is Amanda Weiss and I’m the new office administrator at the United Way of Freeborn County. I grew up in Glenville and graduated from Glenville-Emmons High School in 2005. I attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and graduated December of 2008 with a degree in communications.

During college I had an internship with the American Cancer Society in Mason City, Iowa, where I helped the community relations staff with planning for Cerro Gordo County Relay for Life and with Daffodil Days.

For the last two years I have been exploring life and what I wanted to do for a career. I served as a volunteer with AmeriCorps VISTA with Habitat for Humanity South Central in Mankato from 2009 to 2010 and then this past year was in Des Moines, Iowa, serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity.

In my spare time, I enjoy Rollerblading the lake, spending time with friends and family, taking pictures, watching movies and listening to music. I also enjoy playing sports.

Since graduating from college, I feel like I’ve really found my passion in life is working with nonprofits. My favorite volunteer experience has been taking pictures for the Memory Walk in Des Moines and Ames, Iowa. It was great to see the abundance of people that believe in the fight against Alzheimer’s and to realize how many lives this disease affects. I have also volunteered with the American Cancer Society, Reggie’s Sleepout, Kids Against Hunger, US Against Alzheimer’s and Habitat for Humanity.

These experiences have helped in leading me into my role with United Way. I truly believe in making a difference in a community. I volunteer because I can and I enjoy getting involved.

Freeborn County has a lot to offer its residents, and I’m very excited to work in the community that I grew up in.

The first few weeks in my position have been great for getting reacquainted with people and learning about all the changes that have happened the last few years. I would love to see more community engagement with organizations working together on projects to better the community and for the youth to get involved.

When I was younger I didn’t realize the impact volunteering could make, and now that I’m older I wish I would have started volunteering at a younger age.

I encourage everyone to find something they enjoy doing and find a way to get active in the community. Not only is volunteering an opportunity to make a difference in the community and someone’s life but also a great way to meet people and to learn new skills.

My favorite quote is: “Pay it forward.” You never know how the smallest thing you do for someone could turn out to be the biggest thing in someone else’s life.

Everyone deserves a chance in life. See what you can do to make a difference in someone’s life, and you never know how it might change your life for the positive.

Amanda Weiss is the office administrator for the United Way of Freeborn County.