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Highlighting Our Volunteers of the Year
Shalini Pai and Rodney Ludwig, two of our 2023 Volunteer of the Year recipients, share what volunteering means to them.
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Shalini Pai, a Lead Auditor at Dominion Energy, is being honored as a Volunteer of the Year for her commitment to helping the community, especially when it comes to making the environment better for future generations.
I spend my time volunteering between the Virginia Equine Welfare Society (VEWS) and Friends of James River Park System (FOJRPS). I have been working with FOJRPS for the past 11 years now. Most Saturdays from mid-March to October, a group of volunteers spends about 5 hours removing the invasive plant species along the James River. I joined VEWS back in 2020 and I currently serve as their Fundraising Coordinator. VEWS is a 100% volunteer run organization which rescues horses from kill pens, nurtures, and rehabilitates them for adoption. I had zero prior experience with horses, so I started learning how to clean the pastures, barns, and prepping their food. As far as I can remember I have been spending my free time in the community. Anywhere you live, you will find there are multitude of organizations who could use a helping hand.
Each organization focuses on different things. With the invasive plant species removal, I get to see how hard work and patience can turn an overwhelmed piece of land into a thriving ecosystem – with native plants, shrubs, and animal habitats. The horses at VEWS that come to us from kill pens have previous trauma and are typically in poor conditions. We consistently spend time with the horses and get a feel for their personalities before we can start to rehabilitate them – but seeing the impact we have on them is very rewarding. I also support Sports Backers year-round as a course marshal and manage the post-race food tents during marathons and half-marathons.
I do not think of volunteering as giving back to my community. While I’m dedicating some of my time and physical efforts, I am also getting something in return – the gratification of becoming a better person each day. I live-play-work here, so I think of it as something I MUST do to maintain my privilege to be a part of this community. By investing a few hours each week, I am not only contributing to the wellbeing of our community, but I’m making it better for future generations.
Most people are already volunteering in some shape or form. You may be helping at a place of worship, at your child’s school, or at a company sponsored event. If you want to do more, HandsonRVA.org is a wonderful resource to find one-time opportunities for folks around the Greater Richmond area. Reading to children, delivering food, donating clothes, cleaning our parks, no matter your interest – there is someone who could benefit from what you have to offer.
Rodney Ludwig, Supervisor of Power Generation Shift Operations, serves as a Lieutenant and volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Maysville Volunteer Fire Company.
30 years ago, I started volunteering at Clover Power Station as a fireman and EMT. I really enjoyed the fire training and joined the local volunteer Fire Department in South Boston VA. I was also trained by Dominion to be an EMT which inspired me to join the Halifax, VA Rescue Squad. Today, I Volunteer with the Maysville Volunteer Fire Company as a Lieutenant Fireman and an EMT.
The community will always need first responders. In rural areas like Maysville, there are not a lot of people that volunteer or who can respond to emergency calls during the day. It warms my heart knowing that I can put my training to good use and help meet the needs of our citizens and the community when they need it most.
I have a passion to help my fellow community members in a time of crisis. Volunteers drop what they are doing and head into the line of danger to help someone no matter what. It feels good to be a part of an organization that shares the same goal of helping those in need.
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