Staying true to her roots: Lindsey Lintjer’s community service journey in Mt. Pleasant

Loyalty to a community can be hard to come by. The interconnectedness of modern society affords plenty of opportunities to live and work in new places, which has its upsides. And yet, there is much to admire about those who choose to stay and help build their hometown into a better community. Community building is a complex process which necessitates a synthesis of the fresh perspectives of newcomers and the seasoned perspectives of lifelong residents, who carry with them deep sentiments of love and loyalty. 

Lindsey Lintjer is a Mt. Pleasant native with a deep sense of loyalty to her community and the people within it.

Lintjer attended school at Sacred Heart Academy before enrolling at Central Michigan University. Upon graduating from CMU, Lintjer started a position at United Way of Gratiot and Isabella Counties, where, nine years later, she currently works as the Director of Engagement and Creative Services.

“I think my leadership within the community has stemmed from my role with United Way. It’s just opened so many different avenues in terms of serving my community,” says Lintjer, highlighting the ability of longevity to lead to positive opportunities. 

“My favorite part of [my job] is the people I’ve met along the way, the volunteering opportunities, and just overall being able to create a positive change in the community,” she says.

In Lintjer’s role at United Way, she finds herself faced with a revolving array of responsibilities.

“My favorite thing about working at United Way is that every day brings a new adventure. No day is the same,” she says.

However, with such a dynamic environment comes challenges. 

“We have so many sectors of the community that we serve, so a frequent challenge has been to focus on one of the sectors at a time, doing the best I can with my expertise,” shares Lintjer. 

Despite the diverse set of roles her office plays, Lintjer is focused on the commonality of the objectives.

“Everyone wants to make a difference through their work—whether that be providing clothing, food, or basic needs for individuals in our community,” she explains. “We’re all working towards the common goal of making a difference in the lives of our community members.”

Lintjer is quick to point out that the Mt. Pleasant community has plenty of intrinsic desire and ability to improve.

“One common thread weaving through our community is volunteering, which is fueled by the passion and dedication of our community members … Our volunteers play such a vital role in addressing needs in our community,” she says. “It’s inspiring to see how our community always steps up and comes together.” 

While Lintjer’s acts of service present themselves in Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding areas, the origin of her desire to begin serving took place elsewhere.

“I’ve been on a few mission trips and those really opened my eyes to how fortunate [I really was here], so whatever I can do, day in and day out, to help others is one of my passions,” Lintjer recalls. 

She once again is quick to highlight the community’s ability to parallel her efforts. 

“I think our community is so good at creating positive change,” she says. “[Every day at work], I see just how generous our community is.”

Altruism alone is generally worthy of recognition, as is loyalty to a community and a cause. However, the ability to combine service and humility is a particularly commendable trait which Lintjer possesses; she speaks of the Mt. Pleasant community in a manner that reflects its own altruistic tendencies.

Lintjer’s willingness to share the spotlight for what she and her workplace have accomplished provides a picture of a community that is upheld by its own benevolence. From this picture, it is easy to see just why Lintjer has been so loyal to the Mt. Pleasant community and her role within it. 

“In my role, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing countless instances where our community comes together,” she says. “Whether we need volunteers, or we’re almost at our goal for a campaign, I feel like our community members always step up.”