Renkenberger settles into role as director of United Way of Wells County
By JONATHAN SNYDER
As the recently hired director of United Way of Wells County, Ben Renkenberger finds everyday opportunities to connect with and improve the community he has grown to love.
For an organization deeply rooted in Bluffton, it can be intimidating to step into the role, but Renkenberger is no stranger to nonprofits. He’s worked at them for many years, serving as an executive youth pastor in Huntington County, working with women in recovery in Alabama and founding a youth mentorship program for developing future leaders, called Collaborative Inc.
His experience across the country gives United Way a different outlook on how they can serve, according to the chair of the board, Jessica Bricker.
“With Ben, we loved his passion for people … He brings a lot of unique experiences and unique backgrounds with nonprofits to give UW a new perspective,” said Bricker.
Renkenberger is diving straight for the heart of the community, attending chamber meetings, ribbon cuttings, and other events to get to know others. He does this in combination with the standard workplace campaigning he does with different corporations.
“What I am … is an incredibly relational person who wants you to do better, whatever that looks like,” Renkenberger said.
Despite Renkenberger living in Huntington, he has quickly grown fond of the community Bluffton provides. He’s been amazed at the support and feedback from Bluffton and he desires to do right by them.
“I really love Bluffton,” added Renkenberger. “For whatever reason, people here are just nicer, they care more, are community-minded, generous, all the things that matter.”
Renkenberger’s love for others comes from his faith background. He believes that loving others well is not just about being a pastor and preaching to others.
“If you do it right you’re a social worker, or helping a food bank or building a house,” said Renkenberger. “I want to alleviate the suffering of others and treat them better than I’ve been treated by any other neighbor.”
While his love for the community is deep-rooted, the distance has its drawbacks, mainly a lack of opportunity for casual conversation according to Renkenberger.
“Being able to just shut work off and go home is great … but it doesn’t afford you the casual opportunity to run into someone at a ball game,” said Renkenberger. “How do I continue to be who I am in a community that I know wants to know me, and I want to know them desperately?”
Another challenge for Renkenberger, according to Bricker, is the size of Bluffton’s community. Smaller communities lead to smaller budgets for United Way, but Bricker remains encouraged with his drive to see the community get the funding and help it needs.
“When he has a seat at the table, he’s fighting for the smaller agencies to have representation across the state,” explained Bricker.
United Way’s local focus is on early childhood education, a legacy that Renkenberger seeks to carry well. The new “Bookends” program, designed to help kindergartners struggling with numeracy and literacy, is a linchpin in United Way’s status that Renkenberger wants to continue in the coming years even though he came in after it started.
“For it to be a brand new program … and for all four elementary schools to be involved, that’s huge,” Renkenberger said.
This mindset carries over into other programs that Renkenberger oversees. Renkenberger wants to improve the programs that United Way Wells provides, from the faith fund that serves families struggling with utilities, to the early childhood education needs in the community.
“I want to continue to expand into the things that we are already doing well … and make a bike path into a two-lane highway,” said Renkenberger.
Renkenberger recognizes the challenges and the goodness of the Bluffton community. Although seeing people suffering is tough, Renkenberger’s desire to help others and love the community pushes him forward.
Renkenberger concluded, “If we go about living this life where it’s just making our cookie cutter white picket fence, where we’re making enough to buy a boat and have a retirement and a legacy of a life insurance policy for our children we are missing it all. Yes, those things are great, and who’s to say I don’t want that, but if that’s all I’m chasing, I’m missing everything.”
jonathan@news-banner.com
