Longtime Black Forest, Colorado, resident Gwen Burk was born and raised in a culture of volunteerism ó a practice she tirelessly continues.ìMy family always volunteered,î Burk said. Her mother was a founding member of the Black Forest Arts and Crafts Guild (then called the Black Forest Arts Guild) and who, along with Burkís father, helped found Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church.Her mother also designed the keys ñ- and her father the sheaths ñ- still used today in the annual Keeper of the Keys event, started in 1960 to honor longtime active Black Forest residents who have contributed to the betterment of the community.ìI feel like we need to do things, or help others, and use our talents where we can. And I enjoy (volunteering),î Burk said. Burk is an Oklahoma native, but her family decided to move to the California desert when she was in third grade to alleviate her severe asthma. However, when the family stopped in Denver to visit a relative in Colorado, Burk recalled telling her parents, ìI can breathe!îìWe decided to stay here,î she said.The family first settled in Pueblo then moved throughout the state before establishing roots in Black Forest in 1956.In 1963, Burk married her husband, Charles and they raised their four children in Black Forest.She reminisced about the Black Forest of her youth, where the community relied heavily on resident volunteerism.ìIn those days, you volunteered. The Black Forest Fire Department was run entirely by volunteers and covered 200 square miles and protected 200 families,î Burk said. ìWhen there was a fire, the men left work and the women learned to drive the trucks. … I hope that Black Forest (continues) caring and helping, and keeps this attitude of community,î Burk said.She, like so many others, suffered the loss of her home during the 2013 devastating Black Forest Fire.ìWe lost a lot of material things, but we were very fortunate,î Burk said. ìEvery person was accounted for and we got all our horses, our dog and two of our kitties out.îShe has since rebuilt her home on its original plot, almost in the same spot where it used to sit.ìYouíve got a choice. You can sit and cry and do nothing, or you can be thankful for the memories and move on,î Burk said.Burk, who worked for many years as a bookkeeper before becoming a stay-at-home mom, continues to volunteer for her community. She actively works with several organizations: AARP Chapter 1100 in Black Forest; the Cover Girls at Edith Wolford Elementary School in Black Forest, where she helps young students staple, trim and laminate school books; and she is a volunteer bookkeeper for the Spring Valley Cemetery Association in Douglas County, Colorado.ìToday, I trimmed cards for a teacher (at Wolford Elementary), and that allowed her to spend time doing something else with her students,î Burk said. ìThat is the importance of volunteerism. It is helpful, and it is beneficial.îIn her spare time, Burk also enjoys spending time with her family. Currently, she is working on preserving her familyís stories and interesting anecdotes about their ancestors and other relatives.She said, ìI wrote (a book of family memories) so people could add things to it. I hope that other (family) members will think about the stories they know and add them to this book. Memories are important.îBurk also answered a few fun questions.NFH: Whatís the kindest thing anyoneís ever done for you?Burk: Throughout my life, if itís been that I was having a rough time, there was always a friend or a neighbor willing to help. There has always been someone there. The fact that theyíre willing to help has always meant so much.NFH: What is a hobby youíve had for a long time?Burk: Iíd say handiwork ñ- quilt-making, embroidery, crochet and things of that nature ñ- is kind of what I do. I was introduced to it by my mother. Some of it I learned from her, and some of it I learned from other family. I also love making an old-fashioned loaf of bread at Christmas for my family members.NFH: What was the most rewarding volunteer experience for you?Burk: There is a lot of memories I have of volunteering. One that comes to mind was during a Christmas play. A young boy asked what Mary and Joseph did with the gifts that the three wise men gave them. We actually wrote the Vatican. They answered back. Itís a memory Iíll always have.NFH: What are you looking forward to in 2018?Burk: More family, friends and volunteering!
