Citizen Spotlight: April Lester
A Heart for Helping Others
For more than 30 years, longtime Oakdale resident April Lester has been quietly making a difference in the lives of people in her community. Whether helping seniors, lending a hand to someone in need, or volunteering her time to support local Veterans and First Responders, April has always believed in the importance of helping others.
April has volunteered with Pacific Project Heroes since its early days. She says that Veterans and First Responders are especially dear to her heart, and she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much to their communities and country.
When asked what motivated her to volunteer, April points to the example set by her mother while she was growing up.
“My mother helped everyone. It was just something you did.”
That simple lesson has stayed with April throughout her life.
When asked how volunteering has changed her life, April explained that it has changed the way she sees people. For her, the greatest reward isn’t recognition or praise—it’s seeing the happiness on someone’s face after receiving a helping hand.
“It’s the feeling that you’ve done something good, just to see them happy,” April shared.
One of the memories that stands out most to April involves helping a local Veteran. April and others helped build a porch and wheelchair ramp so he could safely get outside and enjoy his home. They also spent time helping with his yard and pulling weeds.
What made the experience especially meaningful was seeing the Veteran enjoy sitting outside on his new porch—something he had not been able to do as easily before.
For April, helping others isn’t simply something she does occasionally. It has been a way of life for more than three decades.
April is known as a hardworking, devoted, and caring member of the Oakdale community. Her willingness to give her time, energy, and compassion to others is a wonderful example of what community service is all about.
Thank you, April, for more than 30 years of helping others and for being an important part of the Oakdale community. Your kindness and dedication truly make a difference.
I made one intentional factual edit beyond spelling and grammar: I changed “since its beginning 15 years ago” to “since its early days.” Since Pacific Project Heroes was founded in 2010, using “15 years ago” will date the article and may no longer be accurate depending on publication timing. “Since its early days” keeps the recognition meaningful and evergreen.
