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People Taking Action: Local retiree surprised for her endless volunteering!

Posted at 9:26 PM, Dec 01, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-01 21:30:36-05

SUFFOLK, Va. - She's an incredibly busy volunteer who always appears to be on the go, but Lynn Nelson did slow down long enough for News 3 cameras to catch up with her at Lake Prince Woods, a retirement community in Suffolk.

Lynn is a non-stop Energizer bunny. She's been supporting fundraisers in the fight against cancer for 15 years, a team captain for Relay for Life. She's taken part in walks to end Alzheimer's. You'll find her volunteering at Red Cross blood drives and supporting food drives for needy families, plus the Meals on Wheels program.

Lynn is also a volunteer with the Suffolk Humane Society and the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts, and she also takes action at the retirement center where she lives. She is a hostess in the dining area, and she will also run errands for the residents who aren't able to get out much; she'll go visit them in the hospital.

She is considered a mom to everyone at Lake Prince Woods, especially for the residents who don't have family in the area.

For all those reasons,s News 3 presented Lynn with a People Taking Action award, along with a $300 Visa gift card from our community partner, Southern Bank.

So, why is all this volunteering so important to Lynn?

"I think it's just in my DNA. I grew up with my parents volunteering and always giving back to the community, and it's just something we've always done and it just feels good!" she explained.

It was fellow resident Anna Blaum who nominated Lynn. It was really important to her to see Lynn get this recognition.

"Particularly at this time I think it's important to recognize people going above and beyond what would normally be expected in a time of a pandemic," Anna said.

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How does Lynn keep going? She says with a laugh, "Oh, I don't sit down."

And at 77, she's not ready to slow down. She says she's young and all the volunteering helps her feel that way.

"Oh, absolutely; absolutely. Connecting with people is so important!"

And Lynn, you are so important to all the lives you're touching!

To nominate someone for a People Taking Action Award, click here.