Gloria Eberle and her friend Ryan Flakus, 14, pick up their Meals on Wheels deliveries Friday, March 4, 2016. Eberle was the United Way’s selection for the 2015 Wallace Galluzzi Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.

Gloria Eberle has seen firsthand the extraordinary impact that volunteering one’s time can have.

Recently, Eberle, eager to share the rewards of volunteering, invited some teenage neighbors to join her on her regular route with Lawrence Meals on Wheels, delivering food to the homebound elderly or disabled who are unable to prepare their own meals.

“The first time my friends went out to help me deliver meals inside the house, seeing the expressions on their faces was really great,” Eberle said. “They came out with their shoulders lifted a little higher and huge smiles on their faces. To me, that’s just wonderful.”

It’s Eberle’s dedication to bettering the lives of fellow community members that earned her the 2015 United Way Wallace Galluzzi Outstanding Volunteer Award. Established in 1985, the Wallace Galluzzi Award has been presented annually to community members who demonstrate outstanding volunteerism.

“I’m still in awe that I was selected,” Eberle said. “It’s an honor to receive something that prestigious for just doing what I enjoy.”

Eberle began volunteering for United Way 20 years ago, serving as the internal campaign coordinator for Black Hills Energy, where she helps to raise awareness and funding for United Way’s projects.

After discovering her passion for volunteering, Eberle started taking advantage of the learning opportunities United Way had to offer, and went on multiple agency tours to learn about the different programs that the agency helps fund.

Since then, Eberle has been an integral part of a number of United Way’s campaigns.

“It makes me feel fulfilled, like I’m doing something of worth,” Eberle said.

Recently, Eberle took a leadership role in organizing one of her favorite events: the Back to School Book Drive.

“She really brought her organizational skills, combined with her desire to help people, to execute a really successful event,” said Colleen Gregoire, United Way of Douglas County’s vice president and director of resource development. “We really felt like she was a great choice for the Galluzzi award.”