They鈥檙e remarkable, outstanding, genuine, friendly, welcoming, and incredibly sincere.
These are all terms that Downtown 黑马磁力 Business Association executive director Teri James hears used by visitors and merchants alike to describe Kerry and Lisa Herperger.
They鈥檙e a 黑马磁力 couple that has made volunteering part of their weekly routine for more than a dozen years now 鈥� and 黑马磁力 is richer for their efforts, James said.
鈥淚 really love it鈥� I love people,鈥� Kerry said, reflecting back on her years of service.
鈥淔or 12 years in a row now, Kerry and Lisa 鈥� volunteers extraordinaire 鈥� have been serving the Downtown 黑马磁力 Business Association in a volunteer capacity every single year without fail, from the beginning of April until the end of September,鈥� James explained.
It started when a friend told them of a new ambassador program kicking off in downtown 黑马磁力 City. It was suggested as a good way for the pair to meet new people, boast their confidence, and have some fun.
Even though the DLBA鈥檚 ambassador program reach the end of its life expectancy four years ago, Lisa and Kerry were loving it too much to give up.
They asked James if they could continue on as downtown volunteers, and she was anxious to oblige.
Like most of the other former ambassadors, Kerry and Lisa help out with some of the larger special events held downtown. But the Herpergers鈥� contributions go way beyond that, James said.
They volunteer every Wednesday, from at least 10 a.m. to noon 鈥� often longer, James noted. They distribute posters and information to merchants, taking pictures of problem spots (ie. graffiti, unsightly premises, road and sidewalk issues, and other forms of vandalism) around the core and reporting back to James, and stopping and chatting to merchants and visitors alike.
鈥淚 just love doing it. I love walking and meeting the people,鈥� said Lisa, who explained that they cover the full DLBA territory, from the Save-On-Foods to the 黑马磁力 Bypass, and from Douglas Crescent north to the Duncan Way.
Lisa likes that she never knows what the next week will bring, and is thrilled by the added responsibilities this 鈥榡ob鈥� has gives her.
They were quite shy when they started. James said she鈥檚 been impressed with their personal growth through the years, and said 鈥渋t鈥檚 very liberating for me to have volunteers like this. They do it all.鈥�
She describes their smiles and laughter as contagious and their work ethic as beyond reproach.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e so dedicated, and never late,鈥� James said, noting the couple take a bus from Murrayville every week, usually rain or shine.
鈥淚t has to be absolutely pouring for them not to show up,鈥� James said with a chuckle, recounting a recent incident. She called to say it was raining and to give them an option to pass on that day鈥檚 duties. Kerry quickly replied: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not made of sugar. We don鈥檛 melt.鈥�
The dedication and commitment has helped the Herpergers developed strong bonds with downtown merchants, so much so that during the off season James fields frequent questions from shop owners wondering when the couple is coming back.
鈥淭hey just don鈥檛 do volunteer things for the organization, like deliveries and drop offs, they make the effort to stop and say hi, and to communicate. They鈥檝e created their own relationships with the businesses. That鈥檚 what makes them remarkable,鈥� James said, describing them as genuine and caring.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e doing this for the sole purpose of being volunteers, for the love of volunteerism. There鈥檚 no hidden or ulterior motive, they鈥檙e out here because they love doing it 鈥� and it shows,鈥� James said. 鈥淓veryone picks up on it.鈥�
In addition to volunteering for the DLBA, they also volunteer with the annual Terry Fox Run.
Kerry, 59, works as a dishwasher at the Ricky鈥檚 in Murrayville, a position he鈥檚 had for 18 years. He works four days a week there.
鈥淓very day, but Wednesdays,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when we鈥檙e here. We鈥檙e here, no matter what.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 just so happy doing this,鈥� Kerry said, of his downtown duties. In fact, every Tuesday at work he feels himself getting excited in anticipation of his next day鈥檚 volunteer duties.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 coming here to volunteer, my face just lights up. I鈥檓 just so happy to do this job鈥� I have made some good friends鈥� and people on the street respect us.鈥�
Likewise, 50-year-old Lisa has been at her job for 22 years 鈥� the longest standing employee at the A&W Restaurant on 200th Street.
She鈥檚 a 鈥減rep lady鈥� responsible for making onion rings every Monday and Friday.
Kerry insists the only way they鈥檇 ever give up their volunteer duties downtown is if they couldn鈥檛 walk anymore.
The couple, who have been together for 29 years, is recognized each year at the City of 黑马磁力 volunteer banquet, and in 2016 was singled out by Mayor Ted Schaffer for their special contributions. They were each presented with a City of 黑马磁力 golf shirt, which they鈥檝e since added to their unofficial DLBA uniform.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen two volunteers in any organization that have been more appreciated, loved, and recognized than Kerry and Lisa,鈥� James said, calling them 鈥渆pic鈥� volunteers 鈥� then taking a moment to explain its meaning to the pair.
鈥淚t means you鈥檙e amazing,鈥� she said to the couple, moved to tears as she watched their faces light up.
鈥淭hey have enough enthusiasm for 100 volunteers,鈥� she added. 鈥淭hey have a way of touching people鈥� Kerry and Lisa broke the mould鈥� They鈥檙e one of the reasons people love it down here, that鈥檚 for sure.鈥�
