Volunteer: KD Musser

Karen Musser walks into the United Way Rock River Valley office several days a week. Friends and staff know her as KD, a nickname based on her middle name, Diane, which she shares with her mother.

Depending on the day, she might be placing stickers in books for the Reach Out and Read program, sorting donations by age group or tucking parent surveys into books. It's not glamorous work. But by her own account, it's one of the best parts of her week.

“I don't know, I just love coming here," she said. “Not only does it help with my self-esteem, it brightens my mood."

Recently, KD surpassed 160 volunteer hours with United Way Rock River Valley. The milestone made her laugh before it made her proud.

“I feel like I'm living here now," she joked. “I should have my own desk."

I kind of hate being on disability because I feel like I don't have a purpose, you know, to get up every day. So volunteering is one way to have a purpose."

Behind the humor is something more serious. For KD, who manages a disability and mental health challenges, volunteering is more than a side project. It gives her a reason to get up each day. In many ways, she says, it has become a form of therapy.

“I kind of hate being on disability," she said, “because I feel like I don't have a purpose, you know, to get up every day. So volunteering is one way to have a purpose."

Her connection to the work dates back to childhood. KD describes herself as “one of those Scholastic kids" who read more than 100 books in a single summer. Today, she helps ensure books reach children and families through health clinics, schools and community programs.

At United Way Rock River Valley's Annual Community Book Fair in May, she watched families search the tables for books they could take home and keep.

“It was really cool to see that," she said. “Seeing parents come with their kids and teach them that reading still matters."

That desire to support others has also helped KD support herself. A 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory on loneliness found that chronic social disconnection can have health effects comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. The report also found that loneliness and social isolation significantly increase the risk of premature death.

KD doesn't volunteer for recognition. She shows up to feel useful, spend time with what she calls “cool people" and continue growing into a more confident version of herself.

Volunteering gave her that opportunity. So did a community that welcomed her without asking her to explain herself first. And the impact goes both ways. KD isn't just receiving something from her time at United Way. She's helping build stronger connections throughout the community, one stickered book at a time.

If KD's story resonates with you, consider it an invitation. Volunteering doesn't require a résumé or a special reason. It simply requires showing up.