Get to Know WoodmenLife’s Partner Organization: Wakonda Elementary

At WoodmenLife, community involvement is in our DNA. Our associates enjoy giving back, and WoodmenLife supports their passion by offering paid time off for volunteering. Many choose to use that time to work with one of our eight partner organizations.

Learn more about one of these incredible partners, Wakonda Elementary, as told by the WoodmenLife team leader Michelle Packwood.

Tell us a little about Wakonda Elementary.

Wakonda Elementary is a very special school in the Omaha Public Schools district. The teachers and staff at this school pour their hearts into every student. Each student, no matter their background, is encouraged to strive for their best and recognize their potential in a supportive learning environment.

How does volunteering with Wakonda Elementary align with WoodmenLife and our values?

Wakonda Elementary is a perfect example of two of WoodmenLife’s shared commitment principles: community and family. We have truly connected with the families at the school, especially during the holiday season with the support we provide through Giving Tree. We have also embraced the community in every event we do there, just by being present in the area. Field Day, for example, is an exciting event where students have a blast and parents and local volunteers come together to join the fun. It’s all about teamwork and community spirit.

Why is Wakonda Elementary important to you personally?

Elementary students have always had a special place in my heart, especially because I was an elementary school secretary for seven years. Kids at this stage of life are so open and willing to give. It is an inspiration, and I want to show the same kindness and acceptance I am given at the school and beyond. Every time I walk in the school door, I instantly feel connected to students — several of whom give me a hug even though they barely know me.

What inspired you to start volunteering in your community?

Volunteering gives me the perspective to see the world bigger than the little bubble I experience with my family, work and neighborhood. There is so much this city has to offer. Unless you put yourself in different situations, you may never realize strengths you have inside you. Or, even better, someone else can teach you something that you didn’t realize you needed to know.

WoodmenLife volunteers read to classes, help with games during Field Day and assemble donations for students in need at Wakonda Elementary.

What kind of work do WoodmenLife volunteers do for Wakonda Elementary?

Once a month, volunteers visit the school to be a part of the Wakonda Reading Rangers. Older children are paired with younger children, and they read a book together while volunteers check in on them. Adult volunteers also read to the whole class.

During Field Day, volunteers help run various game stations throughout the day. The fun-filled day helps the students kick off their summers.

WoodmenLife associates can also lend a hand during parent-teacher conferences, Staff Appreciation Week and one-off events like Gameboard Day.

Some volunteers may feel a bit unsure about interacting directly with students, so there are other ways to get involved, like assembling snack packs and school supply packs for students in need, as well as taking part in the annual Adopt-a-Family through Giving Tree.

Tell us a little about how you feel after completing a volunteer shift.

Honestly, tired. But a good tired! I will recall conversations and interactions from our short one-hour time slot at the school for days to come. It is fulfilling and provides a sense of purpose to connect with a student in a sincere way.

Can you talk a little about the camaraderie among WoodmenLife associates as they volunteer together?

The best part of volunteering with other WoodmenLife associates is getting to share all our individual stories over a shake at Sonic afterward.

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