FOLEY, Alabama — Ecumenical Ministries has been operating in Baldwin County for more than four decades. The agency has two offices: in Fairhope and Foley, Midwest transplant Darlene Sommerfeld has been working and volunteering for the social service agency for almost two of them.

“Darlene started volunteering as our office receptionist when EMI still didn’t have a full-presence in the South Baldwin area,” South Baldwin Director Pam Meredith said. “Darlene has great organizational skills and puts them to good use recording our client information and maintaining our files.”

“Collectively, I’ve been working with Ecumenical Ministries for 16 or 17 years,” Sommerfeld said.

Sommerfeld, originally from Wisconsin, has been volunteering with the group since she and her husband retired to the coast. Her husband, Dale, is retired Air Force, while Sommerfeld has collected a series of careers before retiring. She will turn 72 this month.

“I’ve done a little bit of everything,” Sommerfeld said.

The couple is active with the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Dale also volunteers during the bustling holiday season. They have been married for 53 years.

“As long as he behaves, I’ll keep him,” Sommerfeld said. “But I’m sure he says the same thing about me.”

Sommerfeld has been on the payroll of the nonprofit for the past few years, but will return to being a volunteer after the end of the year, continuing taking care of the books and shuffling the paperwork. This is her last year managing the organization’s Christmas Sharing program. She has been coordinating the Yuletide program for the last four years.

The South Baldwin office covers Foley, Elberta, Lillian, Magnolia Springs and Bon Secour. The Fairhope office covers Barnwell, Point Clear, Fairhope, Montrose, Daphne, Belforest, Spanish Fort and Malbis.

“I’ll still do what I currently do, I just won’t get paid for it,” Sommerfeld said.

The organization is in the middle of preparation for Christmas Sharing, Sommerfeld said. The program allows needy parents to apply for assistance with providing Christmas gifts to their children. Parents come in for interviews and request certain gifts for their youngsters.

From the end of October until all the presents are given out in mid-December, Sommerfeld works a full-time schedule, even though she’s only paid for part-time work.

“I’ll usually come in before 9 a.m., and leave by 5 p.m., if I’m lucky,” Sommerfeld said. “It’s a tremendous amount of bookkeeping.”

Ecumenical Ministries gave gifts to 484 children in 2010, and are on pace to reach that number this year, according to Sommerfeld. Even if kids miss interviews, sponsors can provide extra gifts so no one feels left out.

“My heart is with the kids, especially the little ones. My four grandchildren help with it each year as well,” Sommerfeld said. “The whole program is pretty amazing, actually. The epitome of what we’re about is Christmas Sharing.”

Although Christmas Sharing always dominates her time during the holidays, Sommerfeld has her hands in other programs run by the organization. From food pantries to prescription coverage help, Ecumenical Ministries has a broad footprint when it comes to helping hands.

“I don’t guess there’s much Ecumenical Ministries wouldn’t do, if they could,” Sommerfeld said. “If there are funds and the need is there, usually we’ll find some way to give, if not all the help, at least some of the help that’s needed.”

The Foley and Fairhope offices interview clients for the Emergency Aid program every Tuesday and Thursday, and the number of applicants has been steadily increasing because of the crippled economy and recent oil spill.

“The number of interviews has picked up immensely. People are just not able to find jobs. Clients are having an issue providing,” Sommerfeld said. “The fishing industry has picked up, but it’s not what it was. People come to Baldwin County thinking it’s a great place, and it is. But it’s not, right now, the greatest place to find a job.”

Despite the demand on her time, the services the non-denominational organization provides needs grease in the gears that grind out the help they provide.

“The staff here and in Fairhope are wonderful to work with, as well as the churches that provide and distribute food as part of Feed My Sheep. It’s nondenominational; churches across the whole spectrum help,” Sommerfeld said. “It’s part of the comradery and knowing that you’re helping someone who needs it.”