In honor of the “125,000 Acts of Aquinas,” alumnus Ed Carlson ‘69 joined other alumni to serve the community in the name of Aquinas. Carlson, who has served on the Traverse City Women’s Resource Center (WRC) Board for 12 years, and continued his service to the organization by working in the Thrift Shop run by the WRC.

“I think the most important part of the ‘Acts’ is the getting individuals thinking about, and doing positive acts for others,” Carlson said. “It just may be the catalyst for an individual to become more regularly involved with a particular agency, or to adopt performing random acts of kindness on a regular, daily basis.”

The WRC Thrift Shop resells furniture, clothes, household goods, etc., and also gives over $10,000 worth of donated goods for free to those in need. For his service, Carlson volunteered at the Shop and ran the cash register, did maintenance work, and organized the donated goods to prepare for resell. He also handed off his 125th Anniversary commemorative coin to the Thrift Shop Manager in hopes of continuing the tradition of service.

“As with most acts of service and/or random acts of kindness, the person participating in the service actually gains more than whoever is receiving the service with the positive feeling that comes from almost all volunteer efforts,” Carlson said. “I very much appreciated seeing the commitment of the staff who work and volunteer at the Thrift Shop, and the gratitude of those receiving the good.”

Carlson graduated from Aquinas in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and returned to earn his Master of Management degree in 1984. More recently, Carlson joined the Board of Trustees in July 2010, and will continue his first term through 2013.

“It is very exciting to see up close and personal the growth and success AQ has had over these many years, and to better appreciate the positive role it plays in helping to mold the future for its students, and the positive contributions it continues to make in and for the Grand Rapids Community,” Carlson said. “As the years have gone by I appreciate more and more the education and life lessons I received at AQ.”

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