Meet Difference Maker nominee Shelley Ploetze

Difference Makers nominee Shelley Ploetze grew up in a large Catholic family in rural Jefferson County, Missouri, near St. Louis.

She and her eight siblings were raised on the ethics of “hard work and service” by their parents.

Her modest farm upbringing shaped Ploetze’s heart for service from an early age, a philosophy she and her husband, Bruce, passed on to their adult daughters, Lauren Houpt and Kristen Ploetze.

She always has encouraged her “girls,” as she calls them, to “try to do as much as you can, when they have that opportunity. ‘Cause if it’s not you (volunteering) then it might not get done.”

Ploetze says every community has a need for volunteers. She urges people to “wake up and notice there are lots of areas for service” within reach.

“We all have different talents,” notes Ploetze.

Each person holds an untapped “God-given talent” waiting to be discovered, she adds, “you just need to find it and your voice” to help others.

During the last 26 years, the majority of Ploetze’s volunteer hours have been logged at Sacred Heart Catholic School and church in Poplar Bluff.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, having remained in the field until her children were born. Once her daughters were old enough to attend Sacred Heart, she made the transition and “decided to start helping around the school and the church.”

When the position of Sacred Heart librarian became available, she jumped at the chance to work at the school.

Ploetze says she is “blessed that God gave me this opportunity,” being able to work in a great environment with children she loves.

In 2018, the librarian salary was eliminated from Sacred Heart’s budget, but Ploetze chose to stay on as a full-time, unpaid volunteer.

“Bottom line, I do it for the kids,” she adds.

Her plans are to remain working in the library for “as long as they (Sacred Heart) want me to stay.”

Every school year, Ploetze privately purchases books, gifting them to each of the students. Her goal is for every child she encounters to have free access to books. Ploetze says fostering the joy of reading benefits children by opening doors to imagination and creative thinking.

She also tirelessly donates numerous anonymous monetary gifts, school supplies, clothing, bicycles and Christmas presents to needy Sacred Heart students each year. Over the years, Ploetze has served in every club, organization and activity associated with Sacred Heart Church and school, including the school board, strategic planning committee and St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and outreach, along with manning various school/parish fundraisers.

Ploetze’s altruism also has benefited the Poplar Bluff community.

She and Bruce donated and planted all the crepe myrtle bushes around the softball field in Bacon Park as A tribute to their daughters’ years playing on civic and school teams. Ploetze has been associated with many other local charitable groups and community organizations, including the Poplar Bluff Garden Club.

“I love to garden,” notes Ploetze, of the interests and hobbies she enjoys in her spare time. The yard of her home is a flourish of plantings and trees she’s nurtured over time.

When not gardening or volunteering, Ploetze enjoys perusing antique shops and getting together with friends for lunch. Together, she and Bruce frequently try to carve out times during the year to spend with their daughters living in other states; Lauren in Huntsville, Alabama and Kristen in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Janice Duncan, of Poplar Bluff, became aware of the upcoming Difference Makers honors a few weeks ago and immediately knew she would nominate her dear friend, Ploetze.

Duncan’s classroom at Sacred Heart had been situated next door to the library and Ploetze was one of the first people to reach out to her as a new teacher when she began at the school.

“She made me feel so welcome, saying ‘hello,’ ‘can I help you?’ ‘can I help you find this or that?’” Duncan adds.

Being service oriented comes naturally to Ploetze, remarks Duncan, “That’s just kinda who Shelley is. She’s always the first to step up when anything is needed.” The two women formed a tight bond through their Sacred Heart connection and Ploetze considers Duncan “... a wonderful friend.”

Ploetze notes her role in service work is but a tiny part of a larger team effort. She wishes to thank her present and former co-workers, aides and others with whom she worked alongside at Sacred Heart over the years. Without them, Ploetze recalls, this honor would not be possible.

Ploetze expressed her gratitude about being recognized as a Difference Maker, saying she was “very touched, almost cried when Janice told me she nominated me. I think it’s a great honor.“