Staff photo by Fritz Busch Rhonda Froehling of Hanska stands in the NUMAS Haus children’s play area, the former First United Methodist Church sanctuary at Center and Broadway in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — Volunteering is a way of life for Rhonda Berberich Froehling of Hanska.

“I do a little bit of everything. I work part-time and volunteer here,” she said from the former First United Methodist Church that was sold to NUMAS Haus about a year ago.

NUMAS Haus, a non-profit organization, provides shelter and support services to homeless women and their children in the Brown County area.

“I started volunteering here, helping NUMAS Haus set up, hold a silent auction at its annual September fundraiser at Turner Hall. About 18 months later, I was hired. I tracked donations on a computer and worked with children. It fit in with watching kids. I did children’s daycare in Hanska for 30 years prior to that., I like to organize. The job fit in with that too,” said Froehling.

She has volunteered for many organizations including the Hanska Women of Today of which she is a charter member.

“We did taco feeds (fundraisers), 5k (run, walks), often at the May 5 celebration, local Make- A-Wish Foundation participants. Every year it was organizing something different,” said Froehling.

She became a member of many organizations and volunteered at them. The list includes the Hanska Library board and Friends of the Hanska Library board, the Hanska Baseball Association’s involvement with the July Fourth celebration, Zion Lutheran Church lutefisk feeds, the Hanska Centennial Tour, Park & Recreation Dept., Sertoma Club, the Brown County Humane Society shelter, New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf, District 88 Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), New Ulm Women’s Expo, the Hanska Charter School and the Vesla Venne preschool.

“For me, growing up and living in a small town is about learning how to help everybody. I believe in keeping money local. It makes more of a difference doing that here. Most all the money I helped raise goes to causes, not administration.

A Leavenworth native, she still works with Hanska Park and Recreation including summer lemonade stand fundraising that donates hundreds of dollars to many organizations.

“I like to read and ride bicycle, be outside. I still coach t-ball for four, five and six-year-olds. I’ve been doing it since my grandkids were young. I coached softball when my daughter Kristi was young. The ballpark is just out my backdoor. I didn’t want youth baseball to go away, so I still volunteer coaching it,” said Froehling.

Rhonda’s husband Landis teaches social studies and coaches baseball at St. James High School. He played on the Hanska amateur baseball team for many years.