The Minnesota Association of Health Care Volunteers (MAHV) selected its MAHV-elous Awards for Outstanding Volunteers for February 2021. Diane Seddon and Marie Chaput from the Benedictine Living Community Crookston were both recognized.
Seddon is the auxiliary president, a long-time employee, and a volunteer in Crookston. She serves on many boards and committees within the Benedictine Living Community, notably recently helping with the large task of outdoor holiday lighting for room-bound residents and apartment-bound tenants to enjoy. The auxiliary’s annual Light Up A Life fundraiser took a creative new approach this year, which Seddon promoted on Valley Talk as the COVID-19 guidelines precipitated a change.
Benedictine Living Community Crookston Volunteer Coordinator Ashley Melsa said Seddon was highly deserving of being recognized. “Diane has been a rock star when it comes to what can we do versus what can’t we do during the pandemic. She has been amazing and is deserving of this award.”
Chaput is the account for the auxiliary. COVID-19 stopped the indoor auxiliary meeting, but Chaput never missed the outdoor and socially distanced meetings that were held. She helped determine what could be done to promote staff, resident, and tenant satisfaction throughout the pandemic. Her creativity and support resulted in suggesting t-shirts, reaching out to auxiliary members by doing wellness checks, arranging treats for staff and their families. And she supported the bath aids to help make residents’ bath days more of a spa experience.
Melsa said Chaput does anything she can to help out, “Marie is truly a phone call away, helping out when she can, with whatever she can while still managing the auxiliary’s financial account and keeping in close contact with the auxiliary board.”
