Get ready: Listing Payton Puerzer's volunteer activities and other accomplishments takes a while.
She has helped out at Feed My Starving Children; stacked books at the Southdale Library; boxed food at the Interfaith Outreach Food Shelf; played with small children at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery; and cleaned and cataloged objects at the Science Museum. A champion figure skater, the Edina 15-year-old also helps kids with disabilities learn to skate through U.S. Figure Skating's DREAM program.
She is working to earn a Congressional Youth Award, which requires community service, and the President's Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes service at three different levels depending on the number of hours performed (bronze, silver and gold — Payton is vying for the gold).
She attends Edina High School, which offers varsity letters in community service. Payton, who is in 10th grade, has completed the required 120 hours and is now working on the paperwork to get it.
Meanwhile, she's treasurer of her school's Latin Club (and received a perfect score on a national Latin test). She reached the state level in a National History Day competition.
"I like awards," Payton said, grinning. "I've filled our trophy case at home."
At the moment, Payton's main volunteer focus is unpacking donations and doing other chores at Arc's Value Village thrift store in Richfield. That's where she does the service that will count toward her Presidential Award.
It's not always the most pleasant work. The donated clothes are often stained or covered with animal hair. Her dad, who volunteers with her, once found a dead mouse. But Payton enjoys it, she said. Sometimes they make fun of the dated clothing together.
