The 20-year Ameren Illinois employee manages meter readers, stages energy efficiency presentations and offers other support in the company’s Quincy, Ill., office - but when the work day is over, she starts giving back.

On weekends and weekday evenings, Walker is on the run - serving as president of the music booster club at Unit 4 District Middle and High School, Mendon, Ill., only miles from her hometown of Ursa.

The mother of two also serves on the council for a small Lutheran church in Mendon. Through her church, she has built Habitat of Humanity homes and delivered meals on wheels to elderly home-bound residents.

Walker admits the pace is frantic. “Every weekend in our small town there’s a festival, an event, or a fundraiser,” she says. “Recently we realized we needed new uniforms for our school band. We had to raise $18,000 to replace the 30-year-old garments. We did it with the help of everyone in the community.”

February 2012