Altruism is second nature to Carol Carlson; her favorite things include making pajamas for underprivileged families in Northfield, packing meals for Feed My Starving Children and preparing carts for same-day surgeries at the Northfield Hospital. Carlson believes that volunteering supports communities by making each individual member stronger.
At 79-years-old, Carlson is extremely active within the Northfield community, volunteering at everything from the Popcorn Wagon in Bridge Square to Thursday’s Table at the Community Action Center. After retiring six years ago, Carlson has become the poster child for a new wave of retirement volunteerism in which retirees essentially volunteer full-time. There is not a day that goes by where she does not give back to the community in some way, according to Carlson.
Carlson was inspired to start volunteering after her husband died nearly a decade ago. The entire community of her long-time home Madison, Minn. rallied around her family, cooking meals and providing moral support in her time of need. “Everyone was so good to me,” she said. “It motivated me to do the same for them.”
Four years ago Carlson moved to Northfield, leaving behind 36 years of friendships and relationships. Her family that lived in Northfield encouraged her to get involved at the Senior Center. From there her volunteer career snowballed as she began to get involved in numerous opportunities around Northfield. Now, Carlson heads up countless opportunities for others, including organizing her own team for Fifth Bridge’s Feed My Starving Children packing event.
Carlson is especially eager to volunteer within Northfield due to the city’s level of poverty. The economy is not helping this situation and many of the people who helped last year are getting help this year because they don’t have jobs, Carlson said. This only motivates her to volunteer more to help other people’s misfortune.
Carlson continues to volunteer because it’s so fun. Not only does she get positive endorphins from helping others, but she also enjoys working with other volunteers and those who are receiving the help. During the holiday season, Carlson helps make Christmas presents for disadvantaged families in Northfield. The best part of the event was seeing the joy on the children’s faces when they picked out their toys and books. “It just makes you feel so good when they’re excited about getting things because some of these kids wouldn’t get presents otherwise,” she said.
In addition to the traditional volunteering she does on a daily basis, Carlson has recently decided to write letters to people who have made a difference in her life. Biweekly, she writes a letter to someone from her past that has made her who she is today. In the letters, she tells the recipient how they have influenced her and how proud she is of them. The recipients, including favorite teachers and pastors as well as her own children, often take the time to write responses, reforming connections that have been lost over time.
“It’s so much fun to connect with people who meant so much to you earlier in life,” she said. “When you get older, things like that mean so much more to you.” She has written 15 to 20 letters in the past year.
Carlson’s altruism extends into her neighborhood, as she routinely entertains her neighbors. When new neighbors move into her cul-de-sac, she introduces herself with a teacake as a housewarming gift. Similarly, the 30 families in her neighborhood are always welcome at her house for morning coffee and socializing time.
While Carlson doesn’t think twice about her own actions, she does acknowledge that her example is not common, especially in larger cities. She hopes that other community members will be inspired by her example and volunteer to help sustain Northfield.
