Look for the red. Whether on a bucket truck updating equipment or on volunteers’ shirts in the community, Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is proud to serve the neighborhoods many call home. While we work together as a team to rake leaves for neighbors, clean a local park or give a friendly wave at an event, several members also volunteer with local organizations on their own time. 

And for Candace Petrie, I&M Distribution Project coordinator, her passion for volunteering is personal: it allows her to set an example for her children about the importance of service for others.

What organizations do you volunteer with and what are your roles within those opportunities?

I volunteer with the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, coach for the YMCA and I have also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.  At the Rescue Mission, we have a team from I&M who visits monthly to serve lunch to those in need. I&M coordinated a Habitat for Humanity experience, where we helped put siding up on a house. Outside of work, I have coached several sessions of soccer and basketball for my kid’s sports teams.

How long have you been involved in volunteer work?

We have been consistently volunteering in our group for over a year at the Rescue Mission and Habitat for Humanity. I have also volunteered for over six years doing activities, such as coaching my kid’s sports teams.

What drives you to volunteer your time for the community?

I have a desire to make an impact in my community, but even more than that, I want to set a strong example for my kids. Volunteering shows my kids the importance of kindness and compassion, as well as the value of giving back to the community. By exhibiting responsibility and drive for the community, I hope to inspire them to lead lives focused on making the world a better place.

In your opinion, why should someone who doesn’t volunteer, sign up to do it? 

Volunteering offers an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. By offering a small amount of time to serve lunch, you give those less fortunate a sense of dignity and community.  By volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, you have the chance to work on the home an individual or family will one day live in. It is humbling and moving to see the power of a team, like ours, together to get a house built or serve several meals. Through volunteering, you become part of something bigger than yourself and the sense of helping others is extremely rewarding. Taking the first step is important, even just offering to coach your kid’s team, signing up as a YMCA volunteer or learning more about other local programs can allow you to make a positive impact on our community.

Visit our community page for more information on how I&M is supporting our local communities and how staff are making a difference through volunteering for their neighbors.