Valerie Foss of Norway laughs at the notion of spare time. She could have more, but she likes to use her time helping others when she’s not working her day job in Paris, including operating the NamibiaCam wildlife camera half a world away. Submitted photo

NORWAY — Volunteering is a way of life for Valerie Foss.

Last month, her employer, U.S. Cellular, awarded Foss its President’s Volunteer Service Award for dedicating more than 200 hours of volunteer work in 2024.

Foss said she started volunteering at an animal shelter at a young age, following the example set by her parents. She now volunteers as head cook at Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp, where she spends her vacation time working in the kitchen 14 hours a day cooking for more than 70 people. She also serves as a youth leader for Moss Brook Community Church, doing community outreach work. That work includes gathering wood and obtaining oil donations for the winter, providing gifts for families during the holidays and helping the homeless.

Born and raised in Freeport, Foss, 37, was home-schooled and began working as a certified nursing assistant. She has worked at U.S. Cellular for the past six years, where she serves as an assistant manager of the Paris store.

Can you walk us through your journey into the nonprofit world — what initially inspired you to get involved?

I grew up in a family that was always involved in some sort of nonprofit volunteering. I can remember as a young child volunteering at the Midcoast Humane Society, a nonprofit animal shelter. When I was 19, a friend invited me to check out the His Place youth center in Oxford, where I fell in love with how they created a safe place for teens while teaching them practical life lessons. During my time volunteering at His Place, we had a group trip to Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp. I reached out to them to see if they needed volunteers for summer camp and they offered me a position of head cook. Eleven summers later, I am now on the committee and spend three to four weeks of my summer vacation cooking for them.

Can you share a moment from your work that really moved you — something that reminded you why you do what you do?

I have a young lady that I’ve been mentoring in the kitchen at Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp for multiple years. She decided she wanted to be a child counselor. When she graduated high school, she was able to use her experience working with me to get a job cooking, which is how she is paying her way through college. To me, this is what volunteering is about. Yes, there is immediate joy when we enrich the lives of the people we are serving, but when we are fully committed, it’s not just about that short-term joy, but the lifelong journey of seeing people succeed.

Valerie Foss, 37, of Norway was presented with the President’s Volunteer Service Award this year by her employer, U.S. Cellular. She dedicated more than 200 hours of volunteer work in 2024. She is assistant manager at the Paris store. Submitted photo

How do you measure impact with your role at Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp and Moss Brook Community Church? 

The simple answer is in seeing changed lives. In both locations I am in positions of leadership (at Blueberry Mountain I am the head cook and … in charge of the kitchen and dining staff; at Moss Brook I’ve been a youth leader and media team leader). To me, being a leader is walking alongside a person, coaching and teaching. My favorite is to see a person grasp a new concept or talent that we’ve been working on.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work with nonprofits but isn’t sure where to start or how to build those relationships?

Ask. I know it seems like it can’t be that simple, but it is! There are so many nonprofits that cover a multitude of different causes. Ask yourself what you are interested in, and what you value, then look for an organization that values the same things. (A simple Google search is a great start.) Once you find that organization, send them a message or give them a call, explain you are looking to be involved and want to know what that would look like.

What keeps you motivated through the inevitable burnout, setbacks or slow progress that can come with nonprofit work?

I find when I am feeling burnt out, I am typically focused on myself, so the first thing I do is ask myself “Why am I here?” In asking that question, it recalibrates my thoughts, because I am there for the people I am serving. When I remember the joy and enrichment I am bringing to their lives it helps to return my joy.

What do you like to do in your spare time when you are not volunteering?

Ha! What is spare time? I spend most of my spare time volunteering for those organizations and a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization called NamibiaCam, which is located in Namibia. For NamibiaCam I remotely operate a wildlife camera that is streamed to YouTube. While far from an expert, I love photography. I also enjoy reading, sewing, bicycling, and creating media videos.