Respectful, trustworthy and volunteer are a few words used to describe Alvera Lindstrom. And because of these qualities, Lindstrom was recently selected as a recipient of the Good Neighbor Award given through WCCO Radio.
Lindstrom, 102, of Cambridge, was the recipient of the WCCO Radio Good Neighbor Award on Aug. 24. As a result, a short biography of Lindstrom was broadcast on WCCO 830AM Radio three times on Aug. 24. The broadcast can be found at minnesota.cbslocal.com/audio/good-neighbor-hall-of-fame.
Lindstrom has served as treasurer of the Isanti County Home Delivered Meals Program for 35 years since her retirement as superintendent’s secretary of Cambridge-Isanti Schools, a position she held for 27 years.
“It’s a nice honor to have received, and I’ve had several people comment on it,” Lindstrom said.
Lindstrom said she has always had a heart for helping people.
“After I retired, I got a call right away asking if I would serve on the board of Isanti County Home Delivered Meals,” Lindstrom explained from her apartment in Riverwood Village. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but a high school classmate knew I had retired and I knew the program was sorely in need of a treasurer.”
According to the WCCO News Radio website, a Good Neighbor is respectful, trustworthy and volunteers to do good deeds. A Good Neighbor can be a group or individual, child or adult, employee or volunteer, a friend or relative. Good Neighbors are recognized Monday through Friday at 7:52 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 5:50 p.m. on WCCO 830AM Radio.
Lindstrom was nominated for the award by Joyce Wallace, who is involved with the Isanti County Home Delivered Meals Program through her work at Isanti County Family Services.
“I work a little bit every day through my service as treasurer of the program,” Lindstrom said. “Since I don’t use a computer, I do all my work by hand or through the use of my calculator and typewriter.”
The Isanti County Home Delivered Meals Program delivers meals Monday through Friday to elderly, disabled and homebound individuals in the Cambridge area. Volunteer drivers deliver the meals, as well as Cambridge-Isanti High School National Honor Society students who assist with delivery of the meals during the school year.
Carol Holmgren, president of Isanti County Home Delivered Meals, said the organization is blessed to have Lindstrom.
“I have known Alvera for 30-plus years and have observed many fine qualities in her; it’s hard to believe that she is 102,” Holmgren said. “She is articulate when keeping the books for the Home Delivered Meals Program. She does the billing, makes the deposits and can tell you within pennies of where we stand financially, all off the top of her head. We are so very fortunate to have her as our treasurer. Our board meets quarterly, at Alvera’s, and she always welcomes us with a fresh pot of coffee, and is ready to get down to the business at hand. She is a busy lady, and one very special centenarian. She is really ‘one in a million.’”
As treasurer of the program, Lindstrom is responsible for all the finances of the organization including billing, collecting payments and hosting the quarterly meetings of the board of directors. Lindstrom also used to drive and deliver the meals when she still drove.
“I really enjoy doing this and it keeps me busy,” Lindstrom said. “The clients are always happy to see you and the meals are really good.”
Lindstrom said she will continue serving on the board for as long as she can.
“As long as God lets me, I will continue to serve as treasurer,” Lindstrom said. “It’s very important to offer this program in our community. The folks receiving the meals have really come to depend on them. And a neat thing about this is some of the teachers I met through my work with the school district are now receiving meals, so I can keep in touch with them.”
Lindstrom was married to her husband, Leonard, for 47 years when he died in 1983. Lindstrom has two children, three grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She has lived in Riverwood Village for 10 years, and in her spare time she enjoys watching Jeopardy and Minnesota Twins baseball games and Minnesota Vikings football games.