Theone Stevenson has been nominated as the Rugby Chamber of Commerce’s volunteer for the month of August.

Stevenson has been volunteering on a regular basis since she retired from teaching almost 10 years ago.

Stevenson volunteers at Little Flower Church, serving as Mass Lector and member of the Christian Mothers organization. She also serves at Little Flower Catholic School as part of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Alumni $75 for 75 Drive.

She also sits on the Rugby Community Endowment Fund board, and she has also recently been appointed to the Tri County Grantee Senior Trust Board.

Among others, Stevenson has volunteered with the Senior Meals on Wheels Program, Heart of America Library, the All School Reunion and the Correction Facility Board.

“[Theone] was nominated because of the tireless hours she spends in making Rugby’s All School Reunions a success,” said the person who nominated Stevenson, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Stevenson volunteers because she simply enjoys it. “Volunteering has always been pretty important to me,” she said. “I think that’s what makes communities work.”

In a community such as Rugby, Stevenson says, there are so many opportunities for people to get involved. “I would just like to encourage people to consider volunteering. Find something that you’re passionate about and do it,” she said.

Of all the things Stevenson volunteers with, her favorite thing to help with is the Senior Meals on Wheels Program. Stevenson started volunteering with the program during the summers with her son and has been volunteering full-time for the past nine years now that she is retired.

She explains that she has a signature knock on the door when she delivers meals and that she is happy to help with whatever task they might need. “When you deliver those meals, sometimes you are the only person that they see or talk to for that day,” she said. “I just like helping them, sitting with them and visiting with them.”

Stevenson also enjoys volunteering with Little Flower Church and School because both she and her son attended school there.

“If I had a passion, it would be for children or the elderly,” she said.

Stevenson said she feels as if she has received more from her volunteer experiences than she has ever given and that she has met amazing people that she otherwise would not have.

“To the person who nominated me, thank you so much,” she said. “It’s very humbling. When they told me, I thought to myself, ‘I don’t even do that much.'”

To Stevenson, it is the little things that mean the most to her a smile from someone who receives a meal and the conversations she has with those in the community who she helps.

Whether she is serving popcorn at the theatre or scooping ice cream at the village fair, Stevenson loves what she is doing.

“At the end of the day, I always feel good about what I have done,” she said. “I’m just fortunate to be able to volunteer.”