North Dakota girl with a goat wins volunteer of the year | Good Samaritan Society

Not many 12-year-olds get home from school and then go to the nursing home to volunteer. But spending time with the residents of Good Samaritan Society - Lakota is something that brings a smile to Peyton Marquart's face, and to the residents' faces, too.
You can find Peyton playing Yahtzee, doing cartwheels and even brining her pet goats to visit the residents.
Peyton comes from a long line of caregivers. In addition to her mom and grandma spending time at the Lakota community, her two great aunts and cousin also work there.
Getting volunteers to the long-term care center can be a challenge. Society administrator Anna Halverson is grateful for Peyton and hopes she inspires others to give of their time, saying, "Volunteering is really at the heart of our mission. It's how we started and it's really who we are from our very beginning. They say there's nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer."
Dedication to that mission is what earned Peyton honors as this year's National Ever Forward Volunteer Champion. Peyton learned the news when leaders surprised her with a baby goat named Pickles, who was wearing a special note.
She says, "When I think about the Good Samaritan Society, I think of people who are helping and being really kind."
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