Humans of Neenah

A Virtuous Volunteer

  “I’m trying to do as much good for as many people as I can,” proclaims John

Bellmore of Neenah. John is a regular volunteer at Washington Early Learning

Center in Neenah. Washington ELC is the home to UW Oshkosh Head Start

program and 4K classrooms. At Washington, he assists in classrooms, on the

playground, in fundraisers, and at school events.

John Bellmore and his wife Mary have been living in Neenah for just over 20

years and describe it as a “peaceful and prosperous place. We chose to settle

here because there is everything that you would ever need that would be in a

big city; but, it is located here,” states John. He also enjoys Neenah’s beautiful

parks and trails, the friendly people, as well as the responsive government

which enrich the lives of both residents and visitors. John relates how

Saturdays in summer he and his wife often eat lunch at Kimberly Point,

watch the wildlife and look out at the lake. After lunch, “we will do a lap or two

around Riverside Park while enjoying the scenery.”

Retiring after 30 years at ARA Vending in 2006, John would meet Mary

every day for lunch at Spring Road Elementary in Neenah where she works. One

day while enjoying lunch together, Mary popped the question–“How would

you feel about volunteering on the playground?” John has been volunteering in

the district ever since. While volunteering in the school, he often helps with

prepping for activities so that the teacher as well as the assistant, can spend

more time with the kids. Additionally, John remarks how he helps the kids to

carve pumpkins during the harvest months. “I also am able to help the kids

learn and practice playground safety,” mentions John.

As he strives to do as much good as he can, for as many people as possible,

John also expresses how he seeks to be trusted and how honesty inspires trust

in others. He illustrates the value of them through a favorite motto, “it is

better to be trusted than to be loved because everyone is loved but not always

trusted.”

By NHS Arete Student Becca Miller