Letter: Why I volunteer with Faith in Minnesota - Post Bulletin

After reading the Post Bulletin's piece on Faith in Minnesota's organizing in Rochester elections, I wanted to share why I volunteer with Faith in Minnesota.

I grew up on a farm with nine siblings. We were taught to help others. Now I live in Stewartville, retired from Mayo, worship in Rochester, have volunteered in Rochester since the 1990s.

My first home had down-payment help via a small loan from Grandpa. Not everyone has Grandpa.

My first husband died from a blood disease and cancer, and my second husband died from lung cancer. When that happened, my job provided health insurance so we didn't lose our house. My daughter had a bone marrow transplant. My job provided family leave so I didn't lose my job. A young homeless woman I helped from Tennessee came to Rochester because she has epilepsy seizures and Tennessee wouldn't cover her medicine, so she could not work. Now in Rochester she has medicine, a job, and an apartment soon. I believe what Faith in Minnesota believes, "When everybody thrives, everybody does better, our economy does better." It's so simple.

In Rochester, about 87,000 people are eligible to vote, but only 59,000 voted in 2020. Why? People often think their vote doesn't make a difference, they don't know what's on their ballot, or they don't even know how to vote. I believe what Faith in Minnesota believes: my vote and your vote matters. That's why I volunteer, to include as many people in our democracy as we can.