AEOA applauds volunteers’ dedication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2026
Virginia, MN – Although temperatures hovering near zero kept many folks indoors, a group of volunteers gathered Friday, Dec. 19, for a modest award ceremony at Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency in Virginia. The celebrated award winners and nominees graciously brave the weather to warm spirits throughout the year.
Volunteers receiving recognition at AEOA’s North St. Louis County 2025 Hall of Fame Awards dedicate their time through agency-supported programs Meals on Wheels, Groceries to Go and Tax-Aide as well as the Virginia Public Library and Cook Area Healthcare Auxiliary.
Leah Anderson with Virginia Public Library accepts an award on behalf of Charlene Applewick who she nominated for the AEOA 2025 Volunteer Hall of Fame Spirit of Giving Award. Pictured with Anderson are AEOA staff (left to right) Heather Hanson, Carrie Pellinen, Anderson and Nicole Mellesmoen.
Volunteers Nancy Kennedy and Kevin Traster received the Heart of Gold Award at AEOA’s 2025 Hall of Fame Awards.
“Rain, sleet or snow, they get their Groceries To Go,” said volunteer Kevin Traster. Traster, along with Nancy Kennedy, was presented with the Heart of Gold award. “It’s our weekly routine,” Kennedy added. Traster and Kennedy deliver groceries to multiple homebound clients each week. Groceries To Go is a weekly grocery delivery service AEOA provides for adults age 60 and over in communities on the Iron Range.
AEOA Volunteer Services and Food Access Manager, Carrie Pellinen, was emcee of the awards ceremony. Pellinen said she and her staff work as a team with their volunteers and credits them with the success of her programs.
AEOA Volunteer Services and Food Access Manager, Carrie Pellinen (left center) hands Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mary Mollard a plaque during the 2025 volunteer hall of fame award ceremony in Virginia on Friday, Dec. 19. Also pictured are Heather Hanson (left) and Nicole Mellesmoen.
Mary Mollard received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Tax-Aide. Mollard has been an area volunteer for more than 25 years. She has contributed 9,000 hours of service through Arrowhead Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). When Pellinen asked Mollard if she had a story to share, she modestly said, “No, there are too many stories.”
Volunteer of the Year, Scott Nellis, receives his award at AEOA’s volunteer hall of fame awards ceremony in Virginia on Friday, Dec. 19. AEOA Volunteer Services and Food Access Manager, Carrie Pellinen (left) and Volunteer Services and Groceries to Go Coordinator, Nicole Mellesmoen (right) presented awards.
Volunteer of the Year, Scott Nellis, did have a heartfelt story to share. When Nellis retired from the U.S. Postal Service he wanted to remain active and chose to volunteer with Groceries To Go and Meals on Wheels. His food delivery route included visits to a mother in her 90s who lived in Hoyt Lakes and her son in his 70s living in Aurora, he said. Over time, Nellis grew to know them well. So well, that the mother asked Nellis, a retired minister, to lead her son’s funeral service when he passed away. “That, was quite an honor,” Nellis shared. North St. Louis Volunteer Services and Groceries to Go Coordinator, Nicole Mellesmoen works closely with the agency volunteers. “Scott is so deserving this year,” Mellesmoen said. “He always goes above and beyond.”
Quad City Food Shelf Manager Karl Oberstar Jr. accepted the Station of the Year award at AEOA’s 2025 Hall of Fame Awards celebration on Friday, Dec. 19. Pictured with Oberstar are AEOA Visitor Services staff (left to right) Heather Hanson, Carrie Pellinen and Nicole Mellesmoen.
During the past year, 68 volunteers put in more than 10,649 hours at the Quad City Food Shelf in Mountain Iron. The food dispensary served hundreds of families and individuals throughout the year earning it the Station of the Year award. Quad City Food Shelf Manager/Coordinator, Karl Oberstar Jr., received the award on behalf of the organization. Oberstar paid homage to the volunteers and donors for the food shelf’s ability to serve the public for the past 43 years. “We can’t help people without the volunteers and the donors,” Oberstar said.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in Northern St. Louis County, contact Nicole Mellesmoen at 218-735-6832 or nicole.mellesmoen@aeoa.org; in Duluth, Lake or Cook Counties, contact Kirsten Ryden at 218-409-5991, kirsten.ryden@aeoa.org. For more information on Groceries To Go or Meals on Wheels, visit www.aeoa.org. Donations can be made at www.givemn.org/Aeoa.
AEOA Northern St. Louis County Volunteer Hall of Fame Award Winners 2025
Volunteer of the Year: Scott Nellis (Groceries to Go, Meals on Wheels)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Mollard (Tax Aide)
Spirit of Giving: Charlene Applewick (Virginia Public Library)
Community Impact: Amy Anderson (Cook Area Healthcare Auxiliary)
Heart of Gold: Kevin Traster and Nancy Kennedy (Groceries To Go)
Station of the Year: Quad City Food Shelf
Honorable Mention: Cook Area Healthcare Auxiliary