Brittany Engesmoe loves the small-town vibe of Madison, Minnesota. And she revels in any opportunity to help beautify her hometown with murals, parks, sculptures and more.
The Thrivent client is a fulltime nurse at Madison Healthcare Services, and she and her husband, Tyler, have two children, a daughter who is 8 and a son who is 6. But in her spare time, she leads and works alongside others on volunteer projects through the local Arts Council. It’s important to her to benefit the community she’s called home all her life.
“A lot of people have hobbies like golfing or gardening,” Brittany says. “Giving back and working on projects is my hobby; it brings me joy.”
What inspired you to volunteer?
My high school tennis coach was a doctor. I asked him how he could be a coach when his life was so busy. He said that no matter how busy you are, it’s important to give back to your community. At that moment, it really hit me that everybody’s busy. But if everyone could just do one thing, think of all the good that could happen.
How did you get started?
I joined the ambulance service 10 years ago, and that was fulfilling. But about five years ago, I joined a committee that, after surveying the community, came up with the idea of transitioning a vacant lot on Main Street into an age-friendly park. We added outdoor exercise equipment, musical instruments for kids to play, flowers and a beautiful mural. It draws people downtown and helps make memories and all feel welcome.
What are some of your favorite community projects?
A few years ago, the baseball field was destroyed in a windstorm. There was a fundraising campaign to rebuild. We hired a local metal artist to create a sculpture with baseballs that light up red, white and blue. Another is our care center mosaic project. We wanted to do a project that would honor one of our previous Art Council members who died. She had worked at the care center; she also passed away there. The mosaic, a landscape including butterflies and wildflowers, is being placed in a covered porch area by the hospice suite. From that artwork, we want residents and family members to feel a sense of peace and hope there.
Many hands make light work. Everybody has something they can bring to the table.
Where does funding for your projects come from?
Our Arts Council is eligible for grants, and we’ve also received funding from the Community Foundation and through donations. My husband and I are Thrivent members, so we lead
Your grandparents influence your Thrivent Action Teams. How?
My grandparents worked with Thrivent and helped their grandchildren apply for membership. This makes each of us eligible for Thrivent Action Teams. Each year at Christmas, we go around the room and talk about teams we led the past year and the difference it made. It feels so good seeing everyone go out of their comfort zones to give back.
What does volunteering mean to you?
It means giving back to the community, getting together with people and trying to make a difference. Many hands make light work. Everybody has something they can bring to the table.
Donna Hein is senior editor of Thrivent Magazine.
