By Taylor J. Hale 

Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – Mayor Mike Wiza’s Good Deed Doer program started in August to highlight individuals in the community who have contributed to the city in meaningful ways.  The most recent recipient is no exception. Johanna Hall, 18, is a Pacelli High School graduate in the process of enrolling at Mid-State Technical College for her surgical technician’s degree.

Wiza presented her the award at City Hall on Sept. 17.  “It’s people like you that make this city great,” Wiza stated. “Just doing things to help other people, because you want to.”

 Johanna’s list of good deeds is extensive. She has helped donate over 2,300 food items to the Place of Peace over the past seven years, visits nursing homes during the holidays, and does work for the VFW and Salvation Army. The young woman also spearheads several independent causes such as her “Cancer Sucks Lollipops” program, which started five years ago, where she sells candy at local venues to raise money for cancer patients.

Hall also manages a Christmas Eve Bake for the Stevens Point Fire, Police, and Sheriff’s departments, providing the crews with free treats.

Johanna noted while she attended Pacelli last year, she and her peers had to perform at least 15 hours of community service for a religion class; she contributed well over 70-hours.

“We all had to do service hours,” Johanna explained. “I thought 15 hours was good, but why not try to make it even better.”

Johanna’s mother and father, Christine and Jay Hall, were also in attendance for the award presentation. The couple is proud of their daughter’s dedication to giving back.

“She does well for others because she wishes that people would do well for everybody,” Christine said. “It started in third-grade for a Girl Scout badge. She had to do a community project and wanted to do a food drive. She handed out fliers to all the neighbors and was going to do porch pick-ups. She was on her little scooter, pulling her wagon. We thought she would get a few cans of peas. It turned out people were putting out grocery bags, so Jay followed her with the car.”

Johanna looks forward to making Stevens Point a better place to live as she pursues her academic path at Mid-State. Wiza noted he was proud to see the young woman strive for such noble goals.

Do you have someone you would like to nominate for a Good Deed Doers award? Call Mayor Mike Wiza at 715-346-1570.