Morgan Federer Shows How Volunteers Shape Pulaski
Behind every successful community project or thriving youth program, you’ll find dedicated neighbors pitching in with their time and talents. Morgan Federer is one of those committed volunteers who exemplifies what it means to see a way to help and dive right in. With deep roots in the area, Morgan puts it simply: “I volunteer because I love this community, and I want to see it grow, flourish, and succeed.”
You see, more often than not, in Pulaski County, it’s the volunteers who make the biggest difference. Morgan is no exception.
Growing up in Francesville, with grandparents in Medaryville, and graduating from West Central High School, Morgan’s connection to Pulaski County runs deep. Now that she is raising her own family here, she’s invested in making our community the best it can be.
“I love the people and the pace in Pulaski County,” Morgan says. “I love the opportunities to get into nature – hiking, hunting, fishing, floating, farming, sightseeing, and so much more. So many of those things are forgotten and overlooked in more populated areas.”
That small-town spirit of neighbor helping neighbor keeps Morgan committed to her volunteer work. “Pulaski County is full of people who step up to the plate. They come together and support one another and the communities they love in times of need.”
Like many volunteers, Morgan started small. Her journey began in 2018 when her family moved back to the area, and she enrolled her son in preschool at Medaryville Nursery School. What started as joining the parent-led board quickly turned into five years of service as president and vice president.
“I felt nervous and underqualified when I started,” Morgan admits, “but I learned and grew so much over the years. I attribute this to my amazing fellow board members.”
That first step led to developing skills in grant writing, fundraising, marketing, nonprofit management, and community outreach. Today, Morgan serves as president of both the West Central Youth League and the UPTOWN Project of Francesville. She also sits on the West Central Athletic Booster Club board and is a committee member here at CFoPC. Each role has built upon the last, creating a volunteer with both passion and practical know-how.
Morgan’s volunteer efforts center around several key causes that matter deeply to her. As a mother and community member, she’s particularly passionate about addressing childcare needs.
“Pulaski County is a childcare desert,” she explains. “Studies show that roughly 85% of brain growth happens before the age of five. By increasing access to quality childcare, we are strengthening the educational foundation for our youth and paving a brighter path for their future by supporting them in those early stages.”
Downtown revitalization is another area where Morgan dedicates her energy, believing that thriving downtowns are essential for economic success.
“Vacant buildings in our towns lead to decreased property values, increased crime rates, and a lower level of community pride,” she notes. “No one should have to travel to visit beautiful places. We must invest in making our own towns livable and lovable.”
As president of West Central Youth League, Morgan also works to create varied opportunities for local children. “It’s important to provide well-rounded opportunities for children so they can become productive, community-minded, responsible adults. Living in a rural area should never be an excuse for less.”
Morgan isn’t alone in her journey or her work in Pulaski County. She speaks warmly of mentors who have shaped her volunteer journey, particularly Darlene Mellon, whom she describes as “a pillar of the Francesville community.” Working alongside Darlene taught Morgan invaluable lessons about community service. “She spent countless hours, many behind the scenes, serving the community. She was a great example to everyone around her and continues to help us all rise to any occasion, regardless of obstacles.”
Ask Morgan what drives her volunteerism, and she’ll tell you it’s about the future—specifically, her children’s future.
“My boys inspire me to give back to the community. Even though many of my volunteer activities involve time away from them, I hope they grow to see the ‘why.’ I want to help our community be a place my boys are proud to call home,” she explains. “I want them to have high-quality, diverse opportunities and see me leading by example. Maybe they will be part of the next generation of volunteers!”
Her message to those wondering if volunteering is worth their time is both challenging and encouraging: “Your time volunteering can make a BIG impact on a small town. Community pride is contagious–go spread it!”
Morgan Federer is a wonderful example of how individual efforts create collective impact. Her hands-on approach shows what’s possible when community members take ownership of local challenges. She describes it best herself when she says, “I believe that if we want to see change, then we need to be willing to step up and help be that change. Actions speak louder than words, and nothing is accomplished by complaining.”
We’re thankful for volunteers like Morgan, who don’t just talk about making things better—they show up and make it happen. Now that’s something worth celebrating!
Servant’s Heart: Nikki Earp’s Commitment to Community
Here in Pulaski County, we’ve always known that our rural way of life thrives when neighbors pitch in and look out for each other. That’s what makes all of the volunteers we’ve highlighted this week so important. Showing up and helping out isn’t just something nice to do—it’s the backbone of our community.
No one understands this better than Nikki Earp. Through her lifelong volunteerism, Nikki embodies that small-town grit and community spirit that makes Pulaski County so special.
“I love living in a community where I can safely raise my family,” Nikki shares. “I feel like we have a lot of great people who look out for each other and want to continue to make the community better.”
Nikki doesn’t just understand what makes Pulaski County a wonderful place to live and work; she’s right there, rolling up her sleeves to help keep it that way. She comes by her volunteer spirit honestly. Her earliest influence was her dad, Don Good, who modeled community service for her throughout her childhood. Those early experiences planted seeds that would grow into a lifelong commitment.
“My father has volunteered for years, and I would help him as a child at events like Kids Day in the Park from the time I was in middle school,” Nikki recalls fondly. “I always have enjoyed volunteering and seeing how I could make a positive contribution to other’s lives or the community.”
Those early lessons taught Nikki that living in a community that reflects your values begins with lending a hand wherever you can. That’s why, as an adult, she has become a volunteer leader in her own right. And when it comes to where she spends her volunteer time, Nikki has clear priorities.
“I typically volunteer at the Pulaski Animal Center, school-related events, and 4-H events,” she explains. “I love working with animals and kids and love to spend my time helping with organizations that can help either of them.”
“At the Pulaski Animal Center, we had about 8 kids come and do a deep clean at the center,” she shares with a smile. “They worked so hard moving cages, power washing, and scrubbing. They made a huge difference and were so proud. As a reward, they had a movie night at the center and got to watch a movie with snacks, and the dogs got to have a night out and cuddle with the kids and watch too.”
In that moment, everyone benefited—the kids learned the value of hard work and giving back, the animals received care and attention, and the center got a much-needed cleaning. That’s the magic of volunteering.
For Nikki, volunteering connects her deeply with the small-town life she treasures.
“I feel very blessed in the life I live,” she reflects. “I feel it is important to give back to the community and support the causes that allow me to give my family the life we have of safety, knowing your neighbors, fresh air, and all the benefits of small-town life. Volunteers are part of what makes this culture continue year after year.”
The network of volunteers in Pulaski County—folks like Nikki who show up with casseroles, tools, and always willing hearts when there’s work to be done—is critical. They are the engine that preserves our rural community lifestyle.
“You should volunteer because it is what keeps our community a great place to raise your family,” Nikki emphasizes. “Without volunteers, there wouldn’t be a lot of the activities that we have. No youth sports, no animal centers, no 4-H, no school musicals, no parades, and the list goes on and on. The more volunteers we have, the more the community can provide and everyone can enjoy.”
And as any volunteer can tell you, the friendships formed along the way are priceless.
“I can honestly say I love working with all the volunteers in Pulaski County,” Nikki confesses. But when pressed, she names Beth Crawford in particular. “She stands out because of her energy and positivity. She always brings a can-do mentality that is refreshing and keeps things moving forward and not stalling.”
As dedicated as many volunteers are, Nikki worries about good folks taking on too much and burning out. She sees that challenge firsthand.
“Children and animals are near and dear to my heart,” she explains. “I would love to see more people volunteer for the community’s existing programs in both areas. It would allow the existing volunteers to not be stretched so thin and have more resources to continue to improve their programs. We have some great things going on, but they can only grow with the help of more people.”
Rolling up our sleeves together and getting the work done is what we do here in Pulaski County. It’s what makes this such a special place to call home. Nikki Earp shows us how it’s done. Like her, we should all find our special spot in Pulaski County where we feel most at home and help that place shine.
After all, volunteering isn’t just about maintaining what we have today—it’s about making sure this community we love is even better tomorrow. Thank you, Nikki, for everything you do for Pulaski County!
