BRAINERD — If all good things must come to an end, so too does the job of a lifetime.
That’s how DeAnn Barry sees 20-and-a-half years as executive director of The Center in Brainerd.
“I think anyone who works for a nonprofit will attest — you receive way more than you give,” Barry said during an interview Thursday, April 3.
She plans to retire at the end of May from a career that’s served her and the senior citizen population of Brainerd well over the past two decades.
The job opportunity came up in October 2004, after Barry spent eight years working in marketing and public relations at the Brainerd Dispatch. Through her work with the newspaper, she served on nonprofit boards, learned how the organizations functioned and developed a passion for the work. A close relationship with her grandparents added to the appeal.
“It was something I was really interested in doing, and a great way to give back to your community,” she said.
While overseeing the operations of The Center, Barry enjoyed watching the ideas of the more than 1,400 members grow and flourish into new programming.
“The volunteers here are exceptional,” she said, noting their work on the plant sale, creating and selling gift shop items and — of course — the doughnuts.
The freshly made cake doughnuts are a Brainerd staple every Thursday morning. It’s a sweet tradition that precedes Barry and others involved in The Center operations, dating back to some time before 1999, when the nonprofit was in the old fire hall on Laurel Street. Today, it’s The Center’s largest fundraiser. That and other fundraising efforts make up over 70% of the organization’s budget. Barry said she’s grateful for the funding from the cities of Brainerd and Baxter to cover the difference.
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Those fundraising efforts happen thanks to committed members and volunteers, along with Barry’s own dedication to the organization. Kathy Tusa, president of The Center’s Board of Directors, compared Barry to the Energizer Bunny.
“You’d think the Executive Director would spend a lot of time behind a desk. Not her,” Tusa said in an email. “She does whatever needs doing at the time. I’ve seen her shampooing carpets, decorating Christmas trees, shoveling sidewalks, doing an emergency clean-up of bathrooms, frosting donuts, making coffee, doing laundry, taking pictures for The Center News — you name it, she does it.”
Perhaps even more importantly, Tusa said Barry always takes the time to check in with her members and make sure they’re doing OK, considering many live alone and might not have other family in the area.
For Barry, it’s those interactions that she’ll take with her into retirement, recalling all she’s learned and witnessed of her members over the years.
“What a wonderful age group, to retire and then decide you’re going to take up a hobby or join a theater group or give back to the community of the expertise you have,” she said. “It’s wonderful to watch them support each other, grow and survive COVID.”
She’s watched the annual plant sale start with a few people dividing up flower bulbs and grow into an enterprise with 1,000 tomato plants, 1,000 herbs and 250 coleus.
She witnesses members take to the woodworking shop and sewing machines to make toys, dolls and stuffed animals that are donated to kids in crisis.
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There’s also the handmade quilts that go to those who are critically ill.
“For a small nonprofit, we have wonderful ways to give back to our community,” Barry said.
Those efforts will no doubt continue after Barry hangs up her hat, planning to spend more time with her already-retired husband and her kids and six grandchildren. Gardening, fishing, camping and all the lakes area staples are on her to-do list for the next chapter of life as she continues to sing the praises of The Center and its vast impact on the community.
First and foremost it provides a place for the aging to be active, both physically and mentally.
“And the benefit of what the community receives in return,” she said, “is a healthier aging population, along with toys and quilts and doughnuts.”
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
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