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Sharon Jahn of Spring Valley Receives $1,000 In Seed Money

Kelly Nelson and Charity Rasmussen from our Spring Valley branch recognized Sharon Jahn of Spring Valley this fall with $1,000 in cash as part of our on-going Seed Money campaign. This campaign helps Home Federal and its employees recognize the individuals who selflessly give back to the communities we serve.

Who is Sharon Jahn?

Sharon is an active resident of Spring Valley who is dedicated to improving her community. You can often find her happily working with multiple organizations including the Spring Valley Food Shelf, Kiwanis Club, and the Spring Valley Library (just to name a few of the organizations she works with)  to continue making Spring Valley better. “I have lived in Spring Valley most of my life. I try to volunteer for different organizations, I enjoy that,” Sharon explained.

Rita Bezdicek, her nominator, knows that Sharon is a large part of what makes the Spring Valley community so great.  “She’s a good person to get to know, she’s always very humble and caring.”

What Makes Sharon Jahn So Deserving?

When someone is as active as Sharon it can be hard to pick a single reason that makes her deserving. One thing that stands out to Rita is her dedication to creating and operating the Spring Valley Food Shelf. She spends a lot of her time collecting donations, shopping for other necessities, sorting food, and coordinating the volunteers for the hours that the food shelf is open during the week. “She was very instrumental in getting it started along with many others who were concerned,” Rita disclosed. “She does a great and people donate money so that people like her can go shopping for things that are needed to help the community.”

Sharon does not isolate her efforts to just one cause. She has been able to dedicate thirty years of her life to her local Kiwanis Club where they work on various projects to improve the community. When she is not at the food shelf or Kiwanis, you can find her working with the area historical society and her church.

“She goes to great lengths to volunteer in many areas in Spring Valley,” Kelly Nelson, Spring Valley Market President, expressed. “She is an incredible asset to this community.”

Where Did We Surprise Sharon Jahn?

Rita made sure that Sharon was planning to be at the food shelf on a Wednesday morning before her weekly Kiwanis meeting.  

Kelly and Charity Rasmussen, Spring Valley Assistant Branch Manager, were followed by our camera crew entered the food shelf, where we found Sharon in the back sorting apples. Kelly explained to a surprised Sharon that she was the recipient of $1,000 in cash. “You are a very strong addition to our community so thank you very much,” Kelly emotionally shared as she handed over the money. Sharon exclaimed, “Your most welcome – I’m thinking already what I can give to!” This came as no surprise as Kelly and Charity have known Sharon for years.

Kelly then addressed Rita, “We want to thank you for nominating Sharon. You hit the nail on the head with your nomination of her and how deserving she is of some extra recognition. You are both very special ladies in our community and we appreciate all you do, thank you very much.”

Why is Giving Back to the Community So Important?

Giving back is bigger than just volunteering your time. At the end of the day, it allows you to feel accomplished and make connections in the community all while helping someone in need. “To give back is important because it blesses us as we’re blessing others,” Sharon expands. “We feel good when we’re doing things for other people – and it improves the community for everyone.”

Rita was able to meet Sharon through various volunteer opportunities. “We are always in the volunteer circle it seems like,” Rita disclosed. Through these volunteer roles, Rita has also experienced the power of giving back. “You feel so much gratefulness when you can reach out and you see people happy,” Rita explains. “It just touches your heart, and you feel blessed, too. It’s in giving that you receive.”

How can You Help the Spring Valley Food Shelf?

When Sharon was asked how to help the food shelf her answer was simple, “There are really three ways they can help: they could bring donated foods that could be then given to our shoppers, they can volunteer as a worker on a day that we’re open to help stock the shelves and help pack the groceries for people, or they can give cash donations. All are appreciated.”

Even if you are not in Spring Valley, helping your local food shelf is so important as it is a great way to put food on the table for families and individuals that need it – especially around the holidays.  

Home Federal Believes in “Giving Today to Help Grow Tomorrow”

Seed Money was created to help recognize and reward the local “do-gooders” going above and beyond in their communities and Sharon deserves the recognition. To help highlight all Sharon does in the Spring Valley community, we recorded her Seed Money surprise and posted it to our Youtube channel. Feel free to view Sharon’s video along with other recipients' footage, to see the full impact that Seed Money is providing to our communities.

“It’s been important for Home Federal to give back to the communities over all these years,” Charity shared. “That’s why it’s been great to recognize Sharon for everything she’s done for this community. Recognizing individuals like Sharon is what Seed Money is all about.” 

Seed Money is part of Home Federal’s Community Roots Initiative where the mission is to “Give Today to Help Grow Tomorrow” and we know Sharon Jahn will continue to make a positive impact throughout the Spring Valley community which makes her a well-deserving recipient of Seed Money. 

We thank individuals, like Sharon, for all they do in the communities we serve. See our other Seed Money stories and how we’re giving back by visiting our Seed Money page.