Janet McCarty named Elk River’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year
She joins Dave Anderson and Donita Grell, who received the honor in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Elk River Mayor John Dietz, who founded the Volunteer of the Year Award, announced McCarty as the winner during Elk RiverFest at Orono Park, shortly before Audio Circus took the stage for the final concert on July 26.
The selection committee included Debbi Rydberg of the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce, Katie Shatusky of Thumbs Up, Deb Weston of the Elk River Lions, Elk River City Council Member Cory Grupa and Dietz.
The Star News has interviewed McCarty and will publish a Q&A with her in next week’s edition.
Here’s what McCarty and the three other finalists were recognized for during the on-stage ceremony at Elk RiverFest:
Janet McCarty
- Thumbs Up after-school program volunteer
- CAER food shelf: bagging, greeting, and check-in
- United Way: Shiver event and Volunteer Hub coordinator
- MOPS: mentor mom
- KTIS Krew volunteer at concerts and events across the Twin Cities
- Every Meal: food distribution at Lincoln Elementary
- House church leader at Central Lutheran Church
- QuickBooks consultant for local nonprofits
Deana McLean
- Elk River Youth Hockey fundraiser director for 13 years
- Elk River girls’ swim team vice president and fundraiser for three years
- Chair of the Downtown Elk River Business Association
- Organizer of the downtown Halloween event
- Helps coordinate downtown Christmas decorations
- Girl Scout leader for three years
- Organizer of a cancer benefit fundraiser
- Volunteer with organizations such as the Elk River Lions
Deb Weston
- Member of the Elk River Lions Club for 15 years
- Served as president, secretary, and board member for the Lions Club
- Currently serves on the district cabinet of Lions
- Served six years with the Minnesota Lions Diabetes Foundation
- Board member of the Minnesota Lions Mission
- Traveled to Guatemala in 2019 to provide glasses to more than 2,000 residents; plans to return in 2024
- Catholic Charities Senior Dining volunteer
- Member of Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center
Katie Harstad
- Chair of Taste of Elk River for the Elk River Rotary Club
- Marketing chair for the Otsego Lions Club
- Participates in park and road cleanup with the Otsego Lions and Elk River Rotary
- Member of the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce Gala Committee for more than six years
- Named the Chamber’s Young Professional of the Year in 2022
- Volunteer for ISD 728 Career and Technical Education programs
- Video board operator for Elk River High School football games
- Volunteer with the Elk River High School dance program
