Marsha Burgeson Is SPAAR Hero For Her Work With Open Arms

The kitchen is a regular hub of activity at Open Arms in Minneapolis on any given day as volunteers crack eggs, wash lettuce, peel carrots and create baked goods in preparation for another round of deliveries to homes throughout the Twin Cities metro. 

“A friend recommended I get involved, and I just kept volunteering,” said Marsha Burgeson, a Realtor® with Edina Realty—Roseville and the most recent SPAAR Hero. “The capital campaign and new building were exciting – I wanted to be a part of it all. Open Arms is a program I believe in and will continue to donate to every year.”

As a volunteer, Marsha has cracked eggs, washed lettuce, peeled carrots and worked in the bakery among her many volunteer activities since starting with Open Arms in 1998. Most recently, Marsha delivers prepared meals to homes in Roseville, Maplewood and White Bear Lake every Wednesday. The recipients of Open Arms’ meals are individuals living with a health crisis or life-threatening illness such cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), COPD and more.

“The people receiving the meals are so appreciative of the generosity. The Open Arms staff makes every volunteer feel like a rock star,” said Marsha, who says the meals provided are healthy options often with locally-grown food from area farms. One of Marsha’s daughters even got involved years ago when her girl scout troop decorated bags for the produce. Her youngest daughter shares her Wednesday route delivering meals. Together they have a lot of fun and greatly enjoy the people that work at Open Arms and then clients they have delivered to through the years.

Marsha became a Realtor® eight years ago. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys time with her three adult children as well as gardening, reading, knitting a bit and nearly anything with a creative outlet.

Marsha is pictured in the center with Leah Herbert, Executive Director, Open Arms of Minnesota and Nate Harrington of Edina Realty-Roseville.

Congratulations, Marsha, on being named a SPAAR Hero! SPAAR Hero is a program of SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee, sponsored by SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. Members of SPAAR’s Communications Committee interview and write the SPAAR Hero articles. If you think someone should be named a SPAAR Hero, nominate them!

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