“If it were possible for the Energizer Bunny to function in a quiet, focused fashion, that version of the bunny would be personified by Ellen Ball.”
Denise Walker, of Volunteers for Mental Health in Montgomery County, sees firsthand the impact Ellen Ball has in the community. That effect has earned Ball a 2023 Journal Review Shining Star.
“Ellen rolls up her sleeves, focuses, and finishes. This passionate frenzy can be seen in so many areas of the Crawfordsville community.”
Ball’s work with VMHMC stands out among her numerous volunteer stints. She began collecting financial and gift donations from her church family for the annual VMHMC Christmas Gift Lift several years ago. That focus has now become a year-round passion to make the nearly 40-year old program better than the year before.
“I’m an obsessive bargain shopper,” Ball said and laughed. “I search because everyone needs to know the joy of Christmas. People in nursing homes can’t leave to join family or maybe there is no more family.”
Nursing home residents are not the only ones that benefit from Christmas Gift Lift. Veterans and people in group homes also receive. The project will distribute small bags of toiletries and small items to nearly 350 people with about 150 receiving larger bags of gifts.
“The program has been around for a long time, back when mental health was not talked about,” Ball said. “Nowadays, there are so many more options for awareness. There are classes, a suicide emergency assistance class and voucher programs. I’m impressed how far it’s come.”
Walker added adversity to the program during COVID just allowed Ball to reach deeper and expect more.
“Ellen originally introduced her giving mindset by observing ‘This sack is not full enough’ and adding more gifts and then checking and double-checking the sacks through her dedicated quality control steps to cross-reference wishes and wants with gifts.”
The gifts Ball provides are not only material, but also in time and leadership as a model volunteer to the student VMHMC board members and others.
“We recently had a volunteer retire that had been with VMHMC for over 30 years. She talked about how it made a difference to not just get something, but give. I try to tell the student volunteers how that makes a difference. Sure, they’re going to get their scout credits or National Honor Society credit, but wanting to give makes the difference.”
Ball also has given her talents over the years to the Crawfordsville School Board, Crawfordsville Housing Authority, Women’s Legacy Fund, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Master Gardeners and several locations where she volunteers as a nurse. Another current passion is quilt making with a group from Christ Lutheran Church.
“We make about 200 here in Crawfordsville,” Ball said. “A lot are going to Ukraine. Anything we can do to help someone in need is worth it.
“Ellen’s motives are pure. Though she shuns acknowledgment she indeed deserves it. The warmth that many individuals experience in our community began with the light of this humble, passionate lady,” Walker said.
Ball’s motive is only about the service and the joy brought by the entire Christmas Gift Lift team.
“Bringing that smile to someone’s face is humbling. When you receive feedback from that nursing home resident who hadn’t opened a gift in five years that really helps.”
