Family Volunteer of the Year: The Stiers

They’re not a traditional nuclear family. But they’re a family, nonetheless, and one that stops at nothing to help The Salvation Army all they can.

Sisters Roberta and Shelly Stier live together with Roberta’s son, Kevin, in Elbow Lake, Minn. They have been Salvation Army volunteers for six years, helping oversee volunteer activities in Grant County.

Among other duties, Roberta has logged hundreds of hours as an Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) volunteer. She serves meals to disaster survivors and relief workers, conducts trainings for other EDS volunteers, raises funds, coordinates mock drills and more.

Shelly, who suffers from a disability, is a behind-the-scenes dynamo. She writes grants, donation letters, performs Internet research, serves meals as an EDS volunteer and more.

Both women have been busy writing grants to fund a storage unit for red kettles, back-to-school supplies and EDS equipment.

Kevin is a spirited teenager who helps his mother and aunt with warehousing and fundraising duties. He is active in several high school and civic groups.

“This family knows what volunteering and giving back to their community is all about,” said nominator Peggy Kill, a Salvation Army field rep.