MADISON — On a beautiful, if blustery, fall evening, more than 130 volunteers, conference members, and staff of the District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul gathered September 30 at the Madison Mallards’ Duck Pond to celebrate the work of volunteers who serve neighbors in need in our community.
Traditionally, the District Council has held a volunteer appreciation event dinner in November.
Reluctant to give up the tradition at a time when connection with others is so important, District Council CEO Ernie Stetenfeld and Membership Director Gayle Westfahl searched for an alternative.
The outfield and drive-in-movie style scoreboard of the Duck Pond baseball stadium at Madison’s Warner Park fit the bill.
Gathering in two shifts, volunteers, Society members, and their guests drove onto the outfield and enjoyed boxed dinners and an audio-visual program that featured the work of volunteers over the past year.
District Council Spiritual Advisor Fr. Bart Timmerman offered a meal blessing and a prayer for the intercession of St. Vincent de Paul for the end of the pandemic.
Special awards
The District Council presented two special awards at the event. Sadie McCaulley received the Youth Service Award for her involvement in the Society’s Dane County high school Youth Service Council over the last few years and for her role as the group’s spiritual director during her senior year.
The Lacy Family — Phil and Winnie Lacy and Tom and Karen Lacy — received the Community Partner Award for providing the use of 1.25 acres of their Fitchburg farmland as a garden that has supplied fresh vegetables for St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry clients for more than a decade.
District Council President Jim Oeth and Board Secretary Susanna Herro joined Stetenfeld to congratulate the awardees and their families.
Youth Service Award winner
Sadie McCaulley served on the St. Vincent de Paul Youth Service Council for three years, representing Christ the King Parish in McFarland and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona.
As the high school student group’s spiritual advisor during her senior year at McFarland High School, she demonstrated significant leadership, setting a tone of openness and reflection for the group.
Membership Director Gayle Westfahl explained, “Sadie was a clear leader in the group, welcoming to all members. She independently researched and prepared reflections, uploaded materials and even brought accompanying music for the group. Sadie consistently reminded others of God’s love for them throughout her activities with the group.”
Sadie, now a freshman at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, was unable to attend the event in-person, but inspired those present with a video recording in which she shared her prayers for the continuing work of the Youth Service Council and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a whole.
Her mother, Krista McCaulley, and sister, Molly McCaulley, were present to receive the award on her behalf.
Community Partner Award winners
Beginning 10 years ago, Phil and Winnie Lacy have donated the use of 1.25 acres of prime family farmland in Fitchburg for a garden to grow fresh produce for distribution at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
Their son, Tom, and his wife, Karen, have continued the family support for the Lacy Food Pantry Garden.
Tom Parslow, president of the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens and a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, has worked closely with the Lacy family.
“The family is always supportive and curious about our plans for the year,” Parslow said.
“Phil does all the mowing around the garden to keep access easy and safe for volunteers. Tom and Karen help with plowing and end-of-season field work. Tom keeps the equipment in good repair and solves equipment problems for the Lacy Garden and even other food pantry gardens that are part of the network. The family even provides a shed for storage of the garden equipment.”
The Lacy family allows hundreds of volunteers onto their property each year to plant, cultivate, and reap an abundant harvest.
In an average year, the garden provides 15,000 to 18,000 pounds of fresh vegetables that are distributed to neighbors in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
Phil and Tom Lacy accepted the award on behalf of the family.
The District Council is pleased to recognize the hundreds of volunteers and remains grateful for the thousands of hours of service they provide to neighbors in need.
Julie Bennett is the associate executive director of the District Council of Madison of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.