United Way of Genesee County, serving Genesee and Shiawassee Counties, has partnered with Consumers Energy to identify an outstanding community volunteer.
Ted Webster of Owosso has been an employee with Consumers Energy for almost 13 years; his current position is as a Field Environmental Coordinator: he is a first responder for any sort of environmental mishap, covering an area from Flint to Greenville and Lansing to Alma.
When he's not doing that important work, Webster is volunteering to help make his Owosso community a better place. He is a regular volunteer at The Arc of Mid-Michigan, where he is on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee. He also volunteers at The Arc's fundraisers, outings and Summer Camps. Friends of the Shiawassee River frequently see Webster at their river cleanups, where he enjoys wading in the river and picking up trash along the river bank. Ted walks for Capital Area Community Services' annual Walk for Warmth fundraiser to support low-income residents in Shiawassee County pay for utilities.
Ted also volunteers a great deal with Shiawassee Hope where his wife, Marlene, is the Executive Director. At LINC Pantry, Webster greets and welcomes clients, helps them shop, tracks check-ins and inventory, and picks up food from the Greater Lansing Food Bank. His time at Pleasant Valley Mobile Home Park is spent helping to winterize trailers, helping on clean-up days and working on a new playground.
When asked about why he volunteers, Webster stated "It brings the community together. There are so many misconceptions that keep people from having compassion, but through volunteering you get to know people who are struggling, you see it, you hear their stories. If our whole community would open their eyes, they would discover that a lot more could be done. We would make a difference in a lot of people's lives."
"One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time, and over the past 10 years, Ted Webster has given greatly of his time, leadership, and of himself to the Arc of Mid-Michigan. He has served as the Board President, helped us received grant funding for his time dedicated to the organization, and has offered valuable insight to many of the changes we have made," said Lynn Brenckle, Executive Director The Arc of Mid-Michigan.
Consumers Energy is committed to have local team members support area nonprofits and volunteer programs. According to their website, "More than 4,000 employees and retirees volunteer across Michigan annually." To learn more about how Consumers Energy employees give back to their local communities, click here.
To learn more about how you can volunteer in Shiawassee County, visit www.shiawasseeserves.org.
