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RICHARD CHMIELEWSKI
This edition of the Volunteer of the Month salute will be a love letter from the servant leaders of the Sugg Middle School Saturday Morning Urban Garden to one of their own: Richard Chmielewski.
The folks who have worked with Chmielewski on Saturday mornings at the Bradenton school gush over him like, well, a middle school student with a big crush.
“Rich is an altruistic, authentic, kindhearted, caring, and generous person,” Joseph Calinski said of his friend and fellow volunteer. “Rich is a wonderful friend, and this volunteer opportunity always allows us as a group of friends to get together, do something for the community.”
Added fellow volunteer and friend Mike Kruger: “I myself have heard ‘I don’t really help’ many times. Everything he does inside the classroom frees the rest of us to work in the garden. He is an integral part of the team.”
The praise from his friends is sincere, in part because they’re preparing to bid adieu to Chmieleski, who will move back to Pennsylvania in the fall. For all his hard work, which totals more than 350 hours over the last 10 years, United Way Suncoast honors Chmieleski the Glory Days Grill July Volunteer of The Month. The distinction comes with dinner for two at any of the Glory Days Grill locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Manatee/Sarasota.
The combination of hard work and humility swells the hearts of Chmieleski’s fellow volunteers. He constantly downplays his efforts, but he’s proven invaluable in sustaining a program that teaches students lessons about harvesting fruits and vegetables and eating healthy.
Chmielewski literally does the dirty work, washing hundreds of hydroponic Styrofoam containers. He also maintains the Ph balance of the indoor hydroponics, cleans the greenhouse filters, and even fixes the students’ chairs and desks. Kimberly Lough, the Sugg Middle School staff lead for this program, estimates that in just this year alone, 100-plus students have benefited from Rich’s endeavors as students grew, harvested, and shared their lettuce and kale.
“I would love to Rich-ly fertilize him knowing that he is important and valued,” Lough said. “Rich has a calm, patient, soothing ambience about him. He is content to work on the task set before him and with utmost excellence, quietly, almost meditatively. … It is soothing.”
In addition to the demanding work, Chmielewski often pays for supplies and other tools out of his own pocket. From electronic hand pumps to drills and leaf blowers, he’s repeatedly lent support without calling attention to himself. “He is a steady workhorse who does tasks that Kimberly assigns,” said Howard Sykes.
After they complete the work, the team often goes out to eat and share the stories of the day – solidifying the friendships that arise from a job well done. United Way Suncoast often cites the camaraderie fostered through volunteering as just one of the benefits people gain from community service.
Chmielewski also roots his daytime job in service, working for Ascom, a communications company that provides advanced nurse call devices for hospitals and acute care facilities. He also loves dining out, live music and sports – rooting for Syracuse, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Yankees. In fact, Chmielewski and Calinski first bonded over sports years ago when Chmielewski invited his new friend to attend a Tampa Bay Storm arena football game. And although Chmielewski plans to leave Bradenton, their friendship will surely endure, as will the volunteer efforts at Sugg Middle.
“Rich is a wonderful friend, and this volunteer opportunity always allows us as a group of friends to get together, do something for the community,” Calinski said.
Joseph, Mike, Howard, Nancy, and Kimberly – we feel the love you have for Richard. And surely, he feels it, too.
Volunteering with Sugg Urban Garden takes place one Saturday a month during the school year. If you're interested in getting involved with this project or to view other opportunities, view our volunteer calendar or contact the Philanthropic Team at projects@uwsuncoast.org.
PREVIOUS VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH:
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