Newsmakers 2016: Shelly Kaiser

When thinking of a community volunteer, many would think of someone like Shelly Kaiser.

Kaiser, who is married to Jason Kaiser and has two daughters, is an assistant vice president/mortgage loan officer at First Midwest Bank in Jackson. She volunteers for a host of not-for-profit groups, including Project Charlie, the Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce, Jackson Noon Optimist Club, Levi's Children's Charity, Nolan Weber Foundation -- Believing Beyond, United Way of Southeast Missouri, March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society.

"Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on someone's well-being," Kaiser says. "I love people and I love helping people. My goal for volunteering is to help everyone achieve success."

While volunteers don't always stay with one cause for a long stretch of time, Kaiser is different.

"A lot of volunteers come and go, but I strive to be consistent," she says. "I have a willingness to serve, and since I don't have an overabundance of money, I give of my time, energy and skills."

Shelly KaiserLaura Simon

Kaiser also teaches Sunday school at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville and has worked in the banking industry for more than 27 years. She says she receives much in return for the volunteer work she does.

"I'm so thankful for the many friendships I have made through volunteering," she says. "I've learned more about diversity, as volunteering gives me the opportunity to work with all kinds of people of different ages and interests, and it also gives you a great sense of accomplishment when you help make something better than what it was."