Lewiston, Idaho Retiree Kersten Eggers Finds Purpose Through Volunteerism, Earns Nonprofit Recognition
From Boeing Spouse to Food Bank Fixture: A Lewiston Woman’s Retirement Story
LEWISTON, Idaho — When Kersten Eggers and her husband Greg moved back to Lewiston in 2021 after spending 35 years on the west side of Washington state, retirement could have easily become a stretch of quiet, uneventful days. For many people making that transition, boredom becomes an unexpected obstacle.
“The biggest complaint I hear from newly retired people is, ‘I’m bored. I’m going back to work (because) I’m bored,'” said Eggers, 61, a Lewiston resident and lifelong volunteer.
It is a problem Eggers has never faced. Since returning to the Lewis-Clark Valley, she and Greg — who spent his career with aerospace giant Boeing — have channeled their time and energy into volunteer work throughout the community. Their primary commitment has been with the Idaho Foodbank’s warehouse in the Lewiston Orchards, where Kersten typically shows up twice a week to help sort large shipments of food into smaller groupings that are then distributed to partner food banks or directly to families in need.
She describes her two-hour shifts at the food bank as “very easy shifts” — meaningful work that carries a low barrier to entry for anyone looking to get involved.
A Lifetime of Giving Back in Nez Perce County and Beyond
Eggers’ commitment to service didn’t begin in retirement. She grew up in Genesee, Idaho, where her father founded a local Boy Scout troop. Later, while living in Everett, Washington, she supported her son Brian’s involvement in Scouting and stayed on as a volunteer long after he aged out of the program. She went on to run a Cub Scouts day camp that drew between 100 and 200 children annually for several years.
“So I don’t know anything else other than volunteering,” she said.
In Lewiston, her service has extended well beyond the food bank. Eggers serves on the Lewiston Salvation Army advisory board, has worked as a Christmas bell-ringer, and previously volunteered at a local Red Cross blood donation center before that organization’s Lewiston presence ended.
Her sustained dedication has not gone unnoticed. In June 2025, Eggers was voted Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year in the Lewiston Tribune’s Best of the Inland Northwest awards — a recognition she received with humility, pointing instead to the broader benefits volunteerism brings to individuals and communities alike.
“It makes me feel like I’m giving back to my community in whatever way I can,” she said. “It’s also a fantastic way for me to meet new people.”
Hy’D Andrews, regional director of the Idaho Foodbank in Lewiston, praised Eggers’ approach in an email to the Tribune. “She is a lifelong learner and strives to do the best job she can for the organizations she volunteers for,” Andrews wrote. “She is kind, friendly and eager to meet new people. When volunteering at the Idaho Foodbank, she brings her heart, head and hands. She is a skilled ambassador for the Idaho Foodbank. We value her commitment to us and the LC Valley non-profits she serves.”
Eggers’ story comes as Lewiston’s nonprofit community continues to look for engaged volunteers. The region’s charitable organizations, including those supported during events like the Twin County United Way Day of Caring, rely heavily on community members willing to give their time.
What Comes Next
For Lewiston-area residents considering volunteer work, Eggers recommends the Idaho Foodbank as a natural starting point — the work is manageable, the environment is welcoming, and the impact is direct. She also pointed to the WA-ID Volunteer Center, located at 1424 Main St. in Lewiston, as a resource that can connect prospective volunteers with organizations matching their interests and availability.
“The nice thing about volunteering is if it’s not your niche, find something else,” Eggers said. “There is always an organization that needs help, especially a nonprofit.”
As National Volunteer Week draws attention to the quiet but essential work done by people like Eggers across Nez Perce County, her story serves as a reminder that retirement does not have to mean stepping back from community life — it can mean stepping further in. For more on community giving events across the Lewis-Clark Valley and throughout Idaho, visit Idaho News for statewide coverage.