What's Your Why? Volunteer Spotlight on Lisa Briggs in Ohio


It’s been suggested for years that if you want to get something done, ask an already busy person to accomplish the task. That proverbial busy person has demonstrated focus, determination, and desire to find ways to serve. Wreaths Across America volunteers are busy people committed to uniting their communities in service to veterans.

Lisa Briggs is the CEO of the Geauga County Credit Union in Ohio. She also serves on the Geauga County Hunger Task Force which oversees seven food pantries in the area. In her spare time, Lisa serves as a 4H Advisor for the Sew, Sew, Sweet sewing club. It’s that club, the young people’s parents, and the community that has united with Lisa to remember the one hundred ninety fallen heroes laid to rest at the Welton Cemetery in Burton, Ohio.

“I found out about Wreaths Across America through a newspaper article from a neighboring county about the Cub Scouts doing it and I thought hey that sounds neat, and I thought we should find a way to do it in Geauga County.”  Voila! That’s when Lisa took on another responsibility to become the Wreaths Location Coordinator for the cemetery and she got the Sew, Sew, Sweet 4H Club signed up as a sponsorship group. “It was around this time last year that we got started and my hope was that we would get every veteran’s grave covered," Lisa shared. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to pick and choose who got a wreath, and who didn’t.”

As a sponsorship group, the club receives five dollars back from every fifteen-dollar veteran’s wreath sponsorship they collect. That’s where the story gets particularly exciting as Lisa explains. “We use those proceeds that come back to the club to purchase fleece and we make no-sew blankets to give away at the veteran’s tent during the Geauga County Fair’s Veterans Day when veterans get in free.”

In just the first year participating as a Wreaths Across America location in 2021, Lisa and members of her community met their goal for full coverage, so no one at the Welton Cemetery had to ask, ‘what about my loved one?’

Lisa’s optimistic about National Wreaths Across America Day in 2022 and grateful for the connections made throughout the community. “We got the American Legion involved last year and after the newspaper article about our event came out, I was approached by the local Chamber about getting involved. I hope to get the Kiwanis and Rotary groups involved here too.”

Thank you, Lisa Briggs, the Sew, Sew, Sweet 4H club, the American Legion, and the citizens of Geauga County for helping us remember, honor, and teach.

You can hear more from Lisa and our other volunteers in our What’s Your Why feature on Wreaths Across America Radio.