Arden and Carolyn Withers, of Dowagiac, are retired employees of the Lewis Cass Intermediate School District and longtime volunteers assisting the Cass County Parks Department. The couple recently volunteered their time during Saturday’s 2015 Harvest Festival, which took place at T.K. Lawless Park in Vandalia.

How long have you been volunteering with the parks?

Arden: About 10, 15 years, somewhere in there.

 

How did you get involved?

A: We got involved with the Haunted Woods [event], with the library. We went out there with my [miniature] train and shuttle wagons; and that’s where we’ve been ever since. The library started it and the parks department took over.

 

What made you want to get involved with the parks?

A: Working with kids. We’ve done that with the school, we’ve done it out there. We’ve done a lot of community things here for Lewis Cass and for other schools. Scott [Wyman, parks director] called us about the parks and we said “OK, we’ll come out and help us.”

Carolyn: We never grew up — we like to do all this stuff with the children.

 

How did you help out with the Harvest Festival?

C: [Arden] took his train that he made, and took it out there. It was pretty cold, so they didn’t have as many riders as they normally do.

 

Why do the two of you like volunteering here in Cass County?

A: We’re both from around here. It helps out the community. Where ever we can help or volunteer, we’re glad to do it.

C: We worked with children all of our lives, so that’s part of it too. We can’t get enough of children.

 

Is there anything you would want to say to get people to follow suit and volunteer?

A: Just get involved.

C: It makes you feel good, when you can do something and make a child smile. You don’t know, maybe these children never get to do anything like that, so that’s an opportunity you have to show them there’s other things to do, that don’t involve a computer…it’s good to get some fresh air!

 

People interested in volunteering with future county park events can contact the department at (269) 445-4456.

 

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or by email at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.