Cindy A. Webreck

I volunteer because I believe that if you live in a community, you need to be willing to be involved in making it a better place.

I learned this from my parents. My father was a dairy farmer who had not gone to college, but who served on the local school board for many years because he wanted to be involved in his children’s education.

My mother was always active in her church, and even at age 78 still helps with the annual church picnic as well as the local food bank.

I moved to Butler in 1982 to work at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center and have been involved in quite a few community organizations over the years.

The one that I am most involved with right now is the Victim Outreach Intervention Center, where I am vice president of the board of directors and a member of the Fund Development Committee.

I was asked to join the board of directors of the Volunteers Against Abuse Center (VAAC) in 1994 by a co-worker at the Butler VA Medical Center, and shortly afterwards began helping with fundraising activities. I continued my involvement when VAAC merged with Crime Victim Services in 2000 to create VOICe.

Over the years, my involvement has included a variety of activities, such as pulling weeds, painting rooms, selling raffle tickets, packing spices, soliciting donations, and working at car cruises and other fundraisers. I’ve learned that there are many ways to support our staff and clients.

I hope that I’ve made the biggest impact, however, in raising awareness of our agency and the services it provides. I’m still surprised by the number of people I meet who are not aware of VOICe, the services it provides to victims of any type of violence and, most distressingly, the serious need for those services.

Like most people, I have times when I feel I am “too busy” to keep up with my volunteer commitments and have, unfortunately, cut back on my activities with some other agencies.

It is hearing the stories of our clients and seeing their courage as they work toward healing that keeps me motivated to continue my commitment to VOICe.

I’m proud to have been part of this agency and to have played even a small role in the growth of the agency and increased services we are now able to offer. In fact, I’m looking forward to retirement when I’ll be able to increase my volunteer time, not just at VOICe but to the other local groups I support.

Whatever your time availability, talents, or interests, there is a local agency that can put you to good use. In return you’ll meet wonderful, interesting people and reap the benefits of seeing your work make a difference in your community.

Cindy A. Webreck, 58, is coordinator of the residential Addiction Treatment Program at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She serves as vice president of VOICe’s board of directors, is a past president of the Butler Outdoor Club and past secretary of Moraine, and is a member of McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission and the Butler County Drug and Alcohol Community Task Force. Her hobbies are gardening, hiking, and travel.