Local Super Bowl Volunteers Form “Forever 52”
Last January, Minnesota became the Land of 10,000 volunteers. “Crew 52” was the name for volunteers who welcomed visitors to the Bold North for Super Bowl LII.
Now, 11 months later, Crew 52 has morphed into “Forever 52” and they are still doing positive things in the community.
“We wanted to stick together so we called ourselves Forever 52,” said Judy Swanson who was part of Crew 52. “We are working to mobilize volunteers that were formerly involved with the Super Bowl.”
“Super Bowl we had a blast,” said Teresa Joens-Kostick.
Some of the same Crew 52 volunteers are together again and they are eager to give back.
“As a charity we’re great at working together as we proved in Super Bowl LII,” said Sandy Johnson. “We still work together and do things to help the community whether it be individually or as a group.”
“When I came here almost three years ago I came from Indonesia,” said Endang Dudinsky. “I don’t have any family or friends so I am thinking doing volunteer is a good way to give back to community and also to make friends.”
Giving Back
At a recent toy collection in Plymouth, Forever 52 volunteers came together for a good cause.
“It’s giving back to your community,” said Mary Jane Ungemach.
“We call ourselves the Skol Sisters,” joked Lori Atienza.
Besides doing good things, Forever 52 was formed for another reason.
“Cause we were all so bummed out that it ended,” said Johnson. “We just loved the experience so much and the friendship that we found.”
“We’re really excited just to see one another again,” Swanson said.
Something that started organically has now spun into something big.
“We have over 1,800 on our Facebook page,” Swanson said.
Forever 52 Attains Nonprofit Status
Forever 52 has accelerated into a nonprofit with a seven-member board that meets a couple times a month.
“We actually have 25 different leaders that are helping in a variety of different capacities,” Swanson said. “To help promote and organize volunteers and organize events.”
“We worked together on MOCHA events, Salvation Army, Feed My Starving Children. We had 150 of us together at three different locations,” said Johnson.
Forever 52 does volunteer work across the Twin Cities metro, setting up donation spots in supermarkets, libraries and other locations.
