By Brandi McGrath Kong, Director of Communications & Conferences
"I just like helping people.”
Short, sweet and to the point – it is Ron Duff’s mission to show up for other people, and it is that dedication to service above self that led the Hillsboro Breakfast Sertoma Club to honor him with its Service to Mankind Award this spring.
Ron’s community service knows no bounds. From helping to construct and maintain the Rancho 3M orphanage and school in Guadalupe, Mexico, to replacing roofs and siding on homes destroyed in natural disasters in our country’s midsection, Ron is willing to travel far and wide to assist those in need.
At home in Hillsboro, he builds wheelchair ramps for area residents without charging for labor. His 30-year career as a power plant operator has given him plenty of construction, repair and maintenance skills that are especially useful in his volunteer group. His group of mostly retired men, “More Than Carpenters,” works alongside him in building these handicap-accessible features. In addition to carpentry, Duff is also skilled in plumbing, welding, electricity and tile installation.
“We usually finish a ramp in one day,” Duff told The Journal-News. “I couldn’t do this alone.”
Duff is also an active volunteer with the Hillsboro First Presbyterian Church with his wife, Terri. They are the parents of two and grandparents of six.
The Hillsboro Breakfast Sertoma Club has been active in the Hillsboro, Ill., community since April 1973. The club presented Duff with his award during a special dinner in May, and shared their message ahead of the time with their local newspaper, The Journal-News.Spreading these stories in your community not only underscores the importance of Service to Mankind, it also celebrates your hometown heroes and your club’s relationship with volunteerism and stewardship.
Moreover, sharing your stories with us allows us to extend their impact well beyond your community's borders. If you’d like to share a recent article with us, please send a link or copy of the article to bmcgrathkong@sertoma.org.