Jessica Foster
Staff WriterFor several years, Hellen Ash and Margaret Moegle have been working hard to benefit others. Ash and Moegle, volunteers at Forest Lake Adult Basic Education, were honored at the Minnesota Literacy Council Award Luncheon April 17.
Ash was one of two recipients to the Outstanding Volunteer Award. Moegle was recognized for 3000 hours of service and also was presented with the Essi Wiseheart Ledyard Award.
The award is in memory of Ledyard, coordinator of Adult Basic Education in Duluth, who passed away last year.
Jean Anderson is coordinator of the ABE program for Forest Lake Community Education and nominated the women for the awards.
ìThe reason I wanted to nominate both of them is the consistency and longevity they have both shown over the years,î she said. ìIt really helps the center.î
Both have tutored many students in many areas. ìThe need changes from day to day,î Anderson said. ìTheyíll do anything.î
Ash
Ash is a retired nurse who has kept herself busy by volunteering and aiding in several mission trips across the globe.
ìIíve been in volunteering and missions since 1991. This was doing something locally,î she said of giving her time at the learning center.
She began as a basic reading volunteer and later expanded to tutor in ESL (English as a Second Language). Over the years, she has used a spectrum of methods to reach individual students.
In her nomination, Anderson recalled Ash using phonics to teach a man with a learning disability, even though it mean her teaching herself phonics. She also has used money, photos, candy and advertisements as teaching tools as methods to teach students classroom work and life skills such as studying for a driverís exam, shopping, asking questions during doctors appointments and understanding prescription labels.
In addition to American students, Ash has taught students from China, Bosnia, Romania, Laos and Jamaica and has logged more than 750 hours of volunteer service.
Her service is an example, she said, that individuals do not need a teaching certificate in order to volunteer at the learning center.
Moegle, herself a retired teacher, agreed.
ìYou donít have to be an ex-teacher to volunteer,î she said.
In fact, Ashís skills in the medical field have helped her in the classroom, Anderson said.
Ash said she was pleasantly surprised to receive the award. While she was just one of two people to take home the Outstanding Volunteer Award, there are other deserving candidates, she said.
ìI think thereís so many outstanding volunteersóthere really is,î Ash said.
Anderson said nominating Ash for the award came naturally.
ìSheís had longevity, sheís had a lot of experience in different areas. She never tells me no. She comes whenever the need is,î Anderson said.
While it would be more convenient for Ash to tutor during the day, she comes at night because that is when she is most needed.
ìSheís very creative in what sheís done,î Anderson added. ìSheís always willing to meet challenges many volunteers wouldnít even think of taking.î
While volunteering takes time, it is well worth the hours spent, Ash said. Remembering a student who ìcaught onî and beamed with pride, Ash said the result is worth the price.
ìI feel volunteering here is very worthwhile,î she said. ìIt does broaden oneís horizons because you do get to know people from different countries, cultures and the struggles they go through to read and cope in our culture.î
Moegle
Moegle has been giving her time at the ABE center since 1987. After logging in more than 3000 hours, the 83-year-old resident shows no signs of stopping.
Anderson said she nominated Moegle for the Essi Wiseheart Ledyard Award due, in part, to the striking similarities in the two womenís lives.
Both women grew up on farms, taught in one room school houses and later returned to school to earn bachelorís degrees. After retiring from their teaching careers, both used their talents to further Adult Basic Education.
ìSo many things were parallel that Margaret rang a bell and I decided to nominate her,î Anderson said.
Moegleís is a regular face at the Forest Lake ABE center. She volunteers there two mornings a week.
Her community involvement is not limited to tutoring. She is active in her church and leads Bible studies. She is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, bringing hot meals to those who need them, she visits homebound adults and reads to blind people weekly.
ìI was given a lotómental and physical health and a lot of energy that I want to put to use for other people,î Moegle said.
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