Rooted in Service: Lorrie's Story of Community, Connection, and Commitment

by Jennifer Beard

Lorrie Weidenhamer has spent most of her life giving her time to the places and people around her, and in Deloraine‑Winchester that commitment goes back decades. Her husband Kevin and his family were already deeply involved with the Deloraine Ag Society, so it felt like a natural extension of her own upbringing and values to start volunteering in 1989 with them. Over the years she has recruited volunteers, helped run major parts of the Ag Society’s work, and stayed involved in whatever way was needed. Today she’s still a regular volunteer, often found helping at the Summer Fair, working the Gate or the Beer Gardens with the same steady energy she’s brought since the beginning.

Her volunteer work doesn’t stop there. Lorrie represents Sunrise Credit Union on the Deloraine Chamber of Commerce, volunteers at the Legion meat draws, and has spent years helping with her children’s activities, from Nursery School to Figure Skating to Minor Hockey. She organizes the Terry Fox Run each year and is an active member of the Ladies 2000 Club, helping with everything from community dinners to Meals on Wheels, Santa Day, the Seniors Christmas Dinner, and the Welcome Way program. For her, volunteering is simply a way to give back and stay connected. It’s how she participates in the life of the community in a meaningful way.

When asked what inspired her to start volunteering, Lorrie doesn’t hesitate: family. It’s how she was raised, and it’s how she raised her own children. Helping others is part of her identity, and she finds real fulfillment in serving the community. She says it gives her purpose, and she genuinely enjoys being out and about, meeting people and being part of the everyday rhythm of the region. She laughs about how often she hears, “You’re here too?” when she shows up at yet another event or activity. It’s said with warmth, and she appreciates it.

Some moments stand out for her, especially the Terry Fox Run. It’s a cause she cares deeply about, and organizing it each year is something she’s proud to do. She also loves delivering Welcome Way bags to new residents. The bags are filled with local information, business cards, and small promotions, and they’re a simple way to greet newcomers and invite them into the community. She enjoys the visits, even the time someone slammed a door in her face. She laughs about it now, because she kept going anyway.

Lorrie believes volunteers are essential to the strength and future of the RM. Committees, programs, and events rely on people willing to give their time, and without volunteers many of these things simply wouldn’t happen. Volunteers don’t just help raise funds; in many cases they run the programs themselves. She feels strongly that the RM and local organizations need to work together to encourage younger residents to get involved so that this tradition continues.

When she talks about why someone should move to Deloraine‑Winchester or consider volunteering, her answer is straightforward. It’s a nice, quiet, family‑oriented place with a great pool, school, rink, community complex, and a fantastic hospital. Volunteering, she says, is one of the best ways to get to know your community and feel at home.

Looking ahead, Lorrie hopes to step back from some of her leadership roles but still stay involved, especially with the Ladies 2000 Club. She’s not ready to stop volunteering—she just wants to shift how she participates. After so many years of giving her time, she’s earned the right to choose the roles that fit her life now while still staying connected to the community she cares about.

Lorrie’s story is one of steady, lifelong commitment. She doesn’t look for recognition; she simply shows up, helps where she can, and keeps the community moving forward. In Deloraine‑Winchester, that kind of dedication makes a lasting difference.