Volunteer Spotlight – Bob Nieman

Bob Nieman

Fishing requires a lot of patience. When you take a 12 year-old who has never fished before, that certainly can be true. But for Children’s Home volunteer mentor Bob Nieman, providing new and valuable learning experiences to the young men he mentors is something he always looks forward to.

“I always take the approach that everyone is a child of God and everyone is here to be loved,” said Bob. “When I go into St. Vincent’s, there may be a lot going on, but the staff are angels for everything that they do for these kids. Helping these children is what we are called to do. There is nothing more important for me than being here for these kids.”

Bob’s relationship with St. Vincent Catholic Charities (STVCC) started as a Guardian Society member with his wife Lynna. For several years they attended the Guardian Society Breakfast and learned of the need for STVCC in the community.

Later through some friends with the Knights of Columbus, Bob decided to grow that relationship further and began volunteering at the Children’s Home. Over the past year, he has worked with four young men. Activities range from fishing, playing basketball, taking a trip to the batting cages, or simply errands to the hardware store to learn about home improvement.

“Volunteering makes me feel good yet makes me feel unworthy, because I get so much out of it” Bob said. “The energy the kids have is contagious. They are always excited to see their mentors.”