FAMILY FINDS JOY IN VOLUNTEERING

If you want to talk to anyone in the Reinagel family you may want to just leave them a message on their answering machine. They are rarely home. You won't find them sitting idle at home said family friend Virgina Scott.

Scott said she is honored to be the friend of Tom and Susan Reinagel and their children Kristen, 19 and Scott, 15. She said volunteering is a way of life for the Reinagels, who live in Cape Girardeau.

"The family is generous with their time and resources," said Scott. "They never ask for anything in return."

Tom Reinagel, who is co-owner of Kelso Supply, said he rarely turns down a opportunity to volunteer his services. "I'm easy, I guess. All anyone has to do is ask and I'll try to help," he said. He said he and his wife rarely say no.

Tom has been a volunteer for youth baseball and basketball, Knights of Columbus, United Way, the Cancer Society, MDA, and his alma mater Notre Dame High School. His wife Susan, a facility member in Southeast's education department, is equally active as a volunteer.

"I will do anything that comes up," said Susan. But she said she almost never does a project alone.

"We try to make it a family project," Susan said. Her family sees things that need to be done and does them. "My kids have grown up knowing that is the way it is suppose to be," said Susan.

Daughter Kristen, now in college, volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House. Susan said her son has always helped others.

"When my son reaches up on the top shelf at the grocery store to get something for an elderly person I know he has learned how to care," Susan said.

When the Reinagels volunteered to help with the fund raising weekly Bingo games at Notre Dame the whole family participated.

"They generously and faithfully worked the Notre Dame Bingo every Wednesday evening and numerous Saturdays for three and one-half years," Scott said. "They are excellent role models for their children, other children and their peers in the community.

Tom said he is surprised that anyone would recognize the family's volunteer spirit. "It catches me totally by surprise. We see a job that needs to be done and do it," he said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time it is all enjoyable."

Susan agrees. She said she never thinks twice about volunteering both she and her husband as a "team."

"We both know the other one is willing to help," she said.

The Reinagels don't always want people to know they are doing something nice for someone.

"We like to do it in secret. It's more fun that way," said Susan. "Tom likes to pick up meal tickets of people we don't know. We have to fight to get the waitresses to give us the ticket without the person knowing it," she said.

They said they just like the feeling they have done a good deed for someone.

From school fund raisers to school activities, Scott said the Reinagels are always there. "They basically see what needs to be done and do it," she said. "I strongly feel we need more families committed to each other and the community as displayed by the Reinagel family."