My friend Lynn Schuur reached out to me on Facebook last week and shared something that I immediately knew I had to write about. Lynn and her friend spend a lot of time walking at Discovery Park. For the past few weeks, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they noticed someone on their hands and knees pulling weeds out of brick pavers. They finally stopped and chatted with him, and he told them he had spent around nine hours that day pulling weeds so that things were looking good for Memorial Day weekend. That unsung hero (that will probably be mad that I’m naming him) is Mr. Harry Fett.

Now, I don’t know Harry, at least I don’t believe we’ve met, but he is worthy of being recognized in this space. Nor do I think Harry is doing any of this work to be recognized; this column was my idea, and if he is indeed displeased with the recognition, I’m sure he will contact me.

Harry volunteers his time making our community look better. Read that again and think about how you could be like Harry and give back. I’m not on a soapbox here, and I too am looking in the mirror and asking myself, “how can I give back like Harry Fett?”

There are residents across Muscatine County that dedicate hours of their time that we don’t know about. My first job was landscaping, and I hated pulling weeds. I quickly learned (as I got older) that it can be a peaceful experience and almost a bit satisfying, especially when you find and remove a giant weed. There are so many ways to get involved right here in Muscatine. We are fortunate to have generous individuals and organizations that are committed to improving the lives of others and the community at large.

I’m a proud board member of the United Way of Muscatine; they can help you get started volunteering, should you need it. The Salvation Army of Muscatine is always looking for help. Senior Resources would love to talk to you about their opportunities. The same could be said for the Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA). They’ll be looking for folks to assist with their upcoming fireworks tent; last year, that generated nearly $30,000 in revenue! That’s a small example of places you could contact and inquire about getting involved. Or, maybe you’ll take a path similar to my new friend, Harry Fett, and find your way to serve.

We spend a lot of time going from park to park on the weekends, and I’m proud to say that my children now realize that it’s okay to pick up trash on the ground. I hope that I can instill a strong sense of pride in our community so that they can continue to make a difference long after I’m gone.

Thank you, Mr. Harry Fett, and please, keep up the excellent work. You are making a difference.