By Amanda Amsel
Staff Writer
Lisa Windfeldt was named the 2015 Juanita Kaufman Award recipient at this year’s National Night Out. Windfeldt was nominated multiple times and was recognized for her work with local seniors and her neighborhood blockwatch.
In an effort to recognize township residents who have enhanced the community, the Franklin Township trustees have selected a Juanita Kaufman Award recipient.
The trustees presented Linda Windfeldt with the coveted award.
“She was nominated by at least five different people,” said John Fleshman, township trustee.
Windfeldt was recognized for her dedication to helping seniors in the community, as well as her local blockwatch. A few of the things she has done in the community include taking older adults to the doctors, running errands for individuals and doing maintenance on their homes free of charge.
“If they are older adults and live on a fixed income, I will help them with repairs around their home,” she said. “I can’t really explain why I do these things, it is just the way I was raised.”
Windfeldt said her mom always gave back to the community she grew up in and she was taught to do the same when she was older.
The township has been awarding residents the Juanita Kaufman Award for seven years in an attempt to inspire other community members to do their part to improve Franklin Township. The award is named after Juanita Kaufman, a longtime resident and community leader of Franklin Township. Kaufman, who is over 90 years old, is still very active in the community, regularly attempting trustee meetings, organizing community events and even being the president of the Westbrook Eastfield Neighborhood Association.
“I can never fill Juanita Kaufman’s shoes, but she does inspire me to help others,” Windfeldt said. “This is a really good community with really nice people, so helping the residents here is my pleasure.”
Windfeldt received the award at National Night Out. National Night Out is a national event that takes place in communities across the country on the first Tuesday of August. The crime prevention event aims to educate communities about local police programs and encourages anti-crime efforts. Some of the programs that are typically highlighted at Franklin Township’s National Night Out are drug prevention efforts, local block watches and other local police efforts.
“I’m shocked, happy and excited all at the same time,” Windfeldt said. “I don’t do these things for money or recognition, I do them because it is the right thing to do. I want to thank everyone that nominated me and the trustees for selecting me. I hope for many years to come I can continue to contribute to this township.”
