AVID VOLUNTEER AT 13 YEARS OLD, OLIVER WHITTEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SELFLESS SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY
Individualized, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Academic Discovery is the definition of an iLEAD Charter School that provides a curriculum that has inspired one special young man to go the extra mile. Oliver Whitten volunteers on a regular basis at the Community Sharing Pantry in Mauston, has led two donation drives for the food pantry, and offers services to campers at the Yukon Trails Campground in Lyndon Station.
At 13 years old, Oliver Whitten is positively impacting his community and has proudly been recognized as Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s latest Selfless Service Award recipient. Oliver was nominated for the award by Emma Palmer who is a committed volunteer at the Community Sharing Pantry. Emma first met Oliver when his school brought students over to help sort food and stock shelves. From there, Oliver took such a liking to it that he is now a regular volunteer and initiates more ideas to help the community.
Oliver saw a need for spices to be handed out to families, something that isn’t regularly donated to the food pantry. Through contacting local businesses, help from his school, and him personally visiting businesses, Oliver’s ambition brought in over 60 pounds of spices ranging from salt and pepper to garlic and onion powder. This in turn led to one bottle of spice given to every family ranging from 200 to 250 families served monthly. Emma Palmer said, “Oliver actually came down sick for most of the spice drive, which made him sad he missed out on some of it but that fueled his ambition toward a second collection drive.” He is currently collecting health and beauty products for the food pantry. Festival Foods in Mauston has a donation box, Bank of Mauston gave a monetary donation, along with assistance from other businesses, school, and family.
Kathy Green, who manages the food pantry, was also a Selfless Service Award recipient in 2022. “This is our third student that I’ve known in the last ten years that have had a passion in helping others and you can see he puts his whole heart into it,” stated Kathy. Oliver has also helped Kathy with the Holiday Train where he’s dressed up and handed out hot chocolate. In under three months, he has conducted two collection drives for the pantry on his own. “Between his own initiative, school, family, and volunteers at the pantry, he is extremely driven and will succeed at anything he puts his mind to,” said Kathy.
Although Oliver has volunteered at the food pantry for about two years, his service to others didn’t start there. He and his family camp at Yukon Trails Resort in Lyndon Station and this year will be their sixth summer. Oliver assists other camping residents by mowing lawns, getting groceries, taking trips to the laundry mat, delivering campfire wood, and more. Oliver’s mom Samantha and dad Steven are two very supportive and proud parents. Samantha mentioned, “I’m just so proud of him, he really loves helping others.”
At 13 years old, Oliver is showing the Mauston area community what selflessness truly means. With a true passion for serving and helping others, Oliver is officially the youngest Selfless Service Award recipient since the program’s inception in 2021. A humble teenager, Oliver’s response to receiving the award was, “I just help whoever and wherever I can.”
Nominate someone for the Selfless Service Award by June 15. Nominate now.