Volunteer Spotlight: Paul
Paul and his late wife had been longtime HFS supporters before Paul started volunteering. Once he retired this past summer, Paul joined the crew as an invaluable facilities volunteer. He is part of what we affectionately call “The Beatles” since Georg is our other skilled repair and light construction volunteer. 🙂 Paul accomplishes so much each week – from fixing the washing machine to the tractor, mower, kitchen heaters and so much more. We are incredibly grateful for his immediate and ongoing impact to help things run and work more smoothly at Heartland.
Why Heartland? My wife and I learned about the farm sanctuary movement in the 1990s, long before any even existed in the heartland. It was exciting to learn about HFS opening and I’ve wanted to volunteer ever since. Now I’m retired and have the opportunity. The work I do here is dedicated to my wife’s memory.
What do you love the most about volunteering at HFS? Knowing that I can make the amazing, inspiring work that the staff and primary volunteers do here easier, safer and more productive.
Do you have a favorite sanctuary resident? Hard to pick a favorite. I do feel like I ‘graduated’ here when Hank let me work in his presence and played it cool.
What do you enjoy doing with your time outside of Heartland? I maintain a prairie that my wife and I created. I also volunteer at Primates Inc, Wisconsin’s primate retirement sanctuary. I also enjoy bicycling, kayaking, fixing (breaking) things and chilling with my two cats.