Senior Volunteer of the Year - Jelanie Bush

Jelanie Bush stands as the epitome of service in the Newaygo County of West Michigan as she has dedicated well over 13,000 volunteer hours for her community. Jelanie has devoted her life to building a brighter future for the world around her by serving a variety of causes, ranging from the environment and food security to low-income children and struggling seniors. She served at TrueNorth Community Services as a board member where she helped lead the organization through a magnitude of programs and staff growth. She has volunteered thousands of hours for events like the Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon, Camp Newaygo’s Building a Healthy Future capital campaign, and the Children’s Christmas Program. In addition to these incredible programs, Jelanie has also spent more than 15 years as a member of the Michigan Botanical Club, where she gives her time to educate the public on conservation of native plants and cooperates in programs concerned with the use and conservation of all-natural resources and scenic features. TrueNorth has honored Jelanie with various volunteer awards, and the community is constantly in awe of her passion for service in Newaygo County and beyond. She is an inspiration to everyone.