Stinemetz named 2015 Halleck Community Service Award winner

A number of words could be used to describe this year’s 2015 Halleck Community Service Award recipient but the one most people may use to describe her is — selfless.

According to those who nominated Judy Stinemetz for the award, they consider her as being a person concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than her own as she volunteers numerous hours to different organizations and causes in the community.

Because of her selfless actions, Stinemetz was named as the 2015 Halleck Community Service Award recipient.

The annual award that is given to a Pulaski County resident who has demonstrated outstanding community service, was established in 1979. The inaugural award was presented to Winamac physician and surgeon and community leader H.J. Halleck. Halleck not only served the community as a physician for many years but was also a political and civic leader.

To receive the award, a person must be nominated by a community member or a member of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce. Committee members of the chamber then name the winner.

Stinemetz was nominated by Connie Reid, of Star City.

“Judy does so much for everybody and doesn’t want any recognition or doesn’t want anybody to give her anything. She just does it,” Reid said.

Reid has known Stinemetz for what she considers a long time. The two have worked at the food pantry together and as the Women of the Moose.

The idea of nominating Stinemetz came to her after she read in the Journal that nominations were being accepted by the chamber.

“She doesn’t think about herself. She thinks about everyone else. She is always there when something needs to be done,” said Reid. “She’s just a good person.”

Reid describes Stinemetz as giving, a go-getter, trustworthy, organized, determined, caring, generous and selfless.

Stinemetz, of Winamac, retired from Pulaski Memorial Hospital after 37 years as the food service manager. She continues to support the hospital as a member of the hospital auxiliary of which she has been able to volunteer time for the past four years.

While she worked for the hospital she felt she was serving others. Stinemetz retired about six years ago.

“I have to stay busy and there is always something to volunteer for,” she said. “I like to help other people.”

Her passion for helping others was influenced by her parents who helped her when she was raising her children. She in-turn helped her children in their times of need. Helping people “is what I have done for 40-plus years, with my profession and that. Helping people is keeping involved and doing for others.”

Stinemetz is currently the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry Coordinator and has been volunteering for the program for about two years.

According to the nomination submitted by Reid, Stinemetz organized Women of the Moose in Winamac, is a member of the cystic fibrous organization in Pulaski County, and helps with voter registration absentee voting and the poles on election days.

She was a past president of the Winamac Alumni, past president of “Women of Pulaski County” and has volunteered with Head Start for many years.

“Judy will always help her community for a cause she believes in by financial or moral support to get the job done in a great way,” Reid said in the nomination.

Stinemetz also volunteers her time for the Pack-A-Backpack fundraising and serving funeral dinners. She will also be helping the YMCA with a fundraiser.

Judy and George Stinemetz are the parents of six children and numerous grandchildren.

A banquet to recognize Stinemetz, along with 2014 Business of the Year Riverside Rentals, will be held on March 31.