Taking a new path
Lisa Haake, a retired special education teacher, is originally from Texas. It was her children that originally got her involved with the Minneapolis VA, where she has been selected as Volunteer of the Month.
Haake, a retired special education teacher, is originally from Texas. It was her children that originally got her involved with the Minneapolis VA, where she has been selected as Volunteer of the Month.
“Both of my kids were interested in medicine when they were in high school, so we talked with some doctors and they suggested that volunteer work at a hospital would be a good route,” said Haake. “Since my father and husband were Veterans, the VA hospital was a natural.”
In 2002, her children began volunteering at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and continued until their high school graduation. Haake picked up where they left off and began volunteering in 2006.
Haake typically is at the VA three days a week, serving as an escort, but can be counted on to take additional shifts if needed. She has logged nearly 6,000 volunteer hours.
Haake’s favorite part of volunteering is getting to know the Veterans and other volunteers. She enjoys talking with the Veterans and hearing their stories. She is very patient and compassionate and will take the more difficult escort runs with a smile on her face. She treats everyone equally and goes above and beyond to make sure every Veteran she interacts with has the best possible experience.
Haake is also a talented baker and brings in homemade treats every shift, a bonus for her volunteer peers.
From the nominator - “This lovely gal is the true description of the best volunteer. She puts her heart and soul into her job and the Veterans are treated with the utmost respect and care. There are not enough words to describe this volunteer. She is reliable and dependable, always has a smile on her face. I know how much the employees and patients love her.”