If there’s a “Hometown Hero” in Durant, it’s Fay Wulf, a longtime volunteer who leads the weekly Cedar County Senior Meal site program in Durant.
Wulf, who has guided the program for 24 years, was honored as October’s Hometown Hero by KWQC TV 6 news and ServPro Thursday, Oct. 3, at the home of the program, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Sports Director Joey Donia made the surprise presentation to Wulf before a packed house of friends and fellow meal site attendees, honored for her “extraordinary effort to serve the community.”
“I was crying and everything,” said an emotional Wulf, saying it was very nice that people recognized her volunteerism in the community.
Wulf makes sure the program continues for the weekly luncheon every Thursday, where she tells a joke, a prayer and sometimes gives a little coaching or information on things like loneliness, something she says is vital in overcoming to that generation in the community.
Even during the 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Wulf would drive the 25 miles to Tipton and back to get the meals, delivered to 15-25 seniors in the community weekly.
The former farm wife, who retired from the farm and moved to Durant in 1993, has also been quite involved in the Gloria Dei Church, from serving on worship and music committees to the visitor’s committee. She also represents Durant for the Wilton-Durant Food Pantry and leads a senior singles group in Davenport known as SAGA (Single Adults with Great Attitudes).
She was nominated for the honor by a friend she met in kindergarten, Don Johnson of Clarence, (both DHS grads of 1959), because, “She’s done a lot for that senior program – it’s one of the best in the state of Iowa.”
Johnson says he sees some of the great things Wulf accomplishes in Durant, from helping others with health care problems to pitching in wherever she can – even at the age of 82.
“We totally shocked her,” he said of the presentation, noting she had her back to the door when the television camera crew walked into the meal-site facility.
Another coordinator of the presentation in getting friends and family there that day was Linda Gyer of Durant, a long-time friend, who said it was a special day for the community.
“I was honored,” said Wulf, who gets $100 to donate to the charity of her choice as well as a $50 restaurant gift certificate for herself. Wulf said the money would benefit the no-kill animal shelter in Tipton.
Wulf has been honored in the past with other county and state awards but said this one was special because of all the friends who attended, noting she didn’t even recognize something was up when the numbers for the meal increased. She complimented the program and volunteers who serve the meals and then clean up afterward each week, as well as the senior meal site coordinators in Tipton who prepare the meals every week, including Karen LaFrenz.