By Seth Boyes,
Edna Schrandt sits in her kitchen near a wall on which numerous awards bearing her name are hung. The 92-year-old was awarded the Stub and Vi Johnson Volunteer of the Year award last month from the nonprofit Easterseals Iowa, but she said she keeps a strong focus on the importance of volunteerism over accolades. (Photo by Seth Boyes)
A wall just off Edna Schrandt’s kitchen is covered with awards. The Decorah resident’s name is inscribed on certificates and plaques given to her by organizations ranging from local 4-H groups to the Iowa governor’s office.
But Schrandt said the accolades don’t mean all that much to her when compared with the volunteer work that’s behind each one.
“I don’t need that stuff,” she said of her awards. “It’s the people. They need some help.”
Still, Schrandt’s drive to support those in need recently resulted in another award for her wall. She received the Stub and Vi Johnson Volunteer of the Year award last month in Des Moines from Easterseals Iowa. The award, named for early members of Pony Express Riders of Iowa, recognized Schrandt for more than five decades of work volunteering and supporting the Winneshiek County chapter of the Pony Express. The nonprofit raises funds for disabled children and adults, and members carry the money by horseback toward Camp Sunnyside — a summer camp which welcomes disabled individuals — near Des Moines on Good Friday each year. Locally, the Winneshiek County chapter holds fundraising events, such as dances and raffles, throughout the year before literally hoofing it south to complete their leg of the journey.
Pony Express Rideres of Iowa was established in 1967 by organizers in and around the Clay County community of Spencer, according to Schrandt. The then-budding organization sent letters to saddle clubs in other regions of the state the following year, hoping to expand their efforts. Schrandt’s late husband Ted and a few friends met with representatives of the group in Elkader — Ted came home with plans to ride almost 30 miles from Decorah to West Union as part of the group.
Schrandt indicated she initially had her doubts about her husband’s plans, but he became the longest running director of the Winneshiek County chapter, riding his portion of the annual route each year until 2010, when he stopped due to issues with his eyesight — though Schrandt did recall one year in which the ride had to be called off due to potentially hazardous snow.
Schrandt said she and other volunteers would often gather groups of youngsters to help collect additional funds while standing near intersections in various towns along the route.
“That’s how I’ve made a million friends between here and Des Moines — out standing along the road in towns, shaking those cans,” Schrandt said.
In fact, Schrandt recalled riding alongside former Iowa Govs. Terry Branstad and Robert Ray as part of Camp Sunnyside’s annual parade from Ankeny to the campgrounds. Schrandt said she herself was chosen to carry the American flag, and she was able to chat with Ray during the event.
Schrandt took a year off from volunteering with the Pony Express Riders after her husband passed away in 2013, but she said the group was soon asking for her assistance organizing events and keeping the yearly effort going strong. The 92-year-old said she still rides a horse when she gets the chance, and she still feels she can do plenty to help others in her community, even if her walker must come along — whether its playing euchre with residents at the local Aase Haugen care facilities or finding buyers for the pile of raffle tickets on her kitchen counter.
“I enjoy doing that stuff — you have to give back,” Schrandt said. “There are people out there that really need help. They just really do.”
And her contributions as a volunteer haven’t gone unnoticed.
Schrandt said her family informed her they were planning a trip to Des Moines in November, which Schrandt assumed would simply be a family get together for a meal. She learned on the way that she was to receive a volunteer award from Easterseals Iowa, a nonprofit organization which supports Camp Sunnyside — she admitted the surprise brought on a few tears.
Numerous awards were presented during the nonprofit’s Nov. 14 banquet, but Schrandt was the only individual named Volunteer of the Year. She said, while most of the banquet’s more senior attendees were familiar to her, she was also pleased to see many young people ready to contribute and support the nonprofit’s cause.
“It’s what you do — that’s what you’re supposed to do — take care of those that need to be helped,” Schrandt said.
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