ST. JOSEPH — Two weeks ago on a hot summer’s day, Jerry Flenar was volunteering to help organize Berrien County inmates in a cleanup on the McCoy’s Creek Trail in Buchanan.

Flenar, who volunteers with the Friends of McCoy Creek Trail Board, said it was not easy work clearing brush in the unforgiving heat, so, he decided to give the inmates a little reprieve and bought them all ice cream bars to enjoy.

“Here these prisoners are and they are working just as hard as you can imagine anyone working … and they were so, so appreciative of those ice cream bars,” Flenar said. 

It’s the opportunity for small acts of compassion like this that Flenar said is among his favorite part of being a dedicated volunteer. Flenar’s continued quest to find these opportunities through nearly 40 years of volunteering is one of the reasons he was selected as a recipient of the Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award.

The United Way of Southwest Michigan presented Flenar, 70, of Buchanan, the prestigious award Wednesday during a ceremony at the Heritage Center and Cultural Museum in St. Joseph.

Flenar was chosen for the award by a United Way committee. He was recognized with multiple plaques, including one which contained pictures of him volunteering. He also received $3,500 to give to a charity or charities of his choice — a decision Flenar said he is still mulling over.

Flenar said he was aware that he was a nominee for the award, but had no idea that he had been selected until his name was announced.

“It was pretty amazing,” Flenar said. “I was amongst United Way people, the Upton Foundation and volunteers around southwest Michigan. To be the winner, I was very honored.”

Recipients of the Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award demonstrate a variety of leadership qualities and have a longstanding history of volunteer contributions and diversity of volunteer experience.

Those who know Flenar know he has always made time to volunteer, whether he was working overtime at his full-time job or retired. 

“I think [United Way] just saw all the volunteering that I did and how committed I was,” Flenar said. “Not only am I a member of every organization, but I work every organization pretty hard. I’m an active worker and supporter and I think they recognize that.”

Flenar has served on eight different volunteer organizations that seek to better his Buchanan community, including Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce for 16 years; Buchanan-Galien Lions Club for 38 years; Buchanan Community Schools Board of Education for 13 years; Buchanan Promise Board for one year; Friends of McCoy Creek Trail Board for eight years; Buckteen Class Reunion Board for 12 years; Buchanan Community School Farm Board for 30 years and Buchanan Little League Coach for eight years.

Flenar said he got his start volunteering while he was serving as a regional manager for Coca-Cola in St. Joseph. The company encouraged its employees to volunteer and Flenar did so despite often working overtime. When Flenar later took a job as a regional manager with Canteen Vending, the company also motivated its employees to be philanthropic. Once he started volunteering and saw the difference he could make, Flenar said he had no desire to stop.

Flenar’s family shares a similar passion and many of them are also volunteers, including his wife, Leeann, who volunteers for Meals on Wheels and the Buchanan Scarecrow Charities.

“Buchanan has always been good to myself and my family,” Flenar said. “I believe in giving back. I heard a statement recently that ‘whatever you give, you get back ten fold,’ and I believe that to be true,” Flenar said. “We are glad to give back to the community.”

Flenar encouraged others to make the time to volunteer and find ways to serve their communities.

“It makes you feel good,” Flenar said. “You are helping someone else that might not be as well off as yourself and hopefully, you can make a difference in the world, even if it is a small one.”

Flenar was one of three nominees recognized. The others include:

Phil Maki

Dorothy Parker

Emerging and Sustaining Volunteer award winner

Pat Winans

Other nominees:

Laura Goos

Mike Ford

Ashlee Jaffee-Montgomery

Sustaining Volunteer

Award Winner

Margaret O’Neill

Other nominees:

Steve Mejeur

Nancy Saylor

Tara Smith

Colette Scott

Bob Stanwood

Roger Herbstreit

Joshua Simons

Live United Youth Scholarships

Winners:

Berrien County Winner

Kailey Skarbek, Niles High School

Cass County Winner

Nick Bradley, Edwardsburg High School