For Martha Rouzer, moving to Sumner County presented all new opportunities in her life. Martha grew up in the suburbs of New York City, followed by attending college in Rochester, N.Y. She enjoyed a career in teaching while raising her two girls with her husband, Rob. When Rob took a job in northern Illinois, they transitioned the family to the Chicago area.
So how did they end up in Sumner County? Like many who have made this area their home, the Rouzers retired and looked for a change in climate, away from the cold winds of Illinois. They wanted to be close enough to family to travel and visit, but in a location that met their needs in this season of life.
When Martha, a passionate former teacher and active retiree, moved to this area, she found volunteering in the library and school system was a perfect fit! In June 2018, Martha walked into the Gallatin Public Library and was greeted by someone who asked her if she was interested in volunteering. Of course, Martha jumped at the opportunity and said yes! She didn’t have anything else going on, being new to town.
When school resumed in August 2018, she offered her services to the school closest to her home, Benny Bills Elementary, where she still volunteers in the library mending books for the children. She enjoys watching the teachers and children come and go while she quietly serves.
Then while dropping off a donation at Sumner County Schools’ Family Resource Center in January 2019, Martha saw that the staff were overwhelmed. She jumped into action there as well! Now seven years after moving to the area, Martha continues to volunteer in these ways, making it a significant part of her life.
When she is not at one of her volunteer opportunities, Martha fills her time with new and old hobbies like quilting, gardening and sewing. She stays active because it allows her to meet new people and have a positive impact on others.
Martha has valued the relationships she has built through her time serving in the libraries and schools. She has been able to learn about her new community through the friends she has made and knows her impact goes farther than she knows.
When I asked her what motivates her to volunteer, Martha shared that it is the reward of helping by doing something that fulfills a need or makes someone’s job a little easier. She shared that sometimes just working alongside someone can have a significant impact on their path to accomplish the mission.
As someone who is aging well and “living her life to the fullest,” Martha Rouzer feels you can learn a lot more than you expect when you are surrounded by younger people, and it might feel good when you are also giving them a hand!
She encourages others to find a place where people are friendly, and you can be around other
generations and learn and grow together!
