Lori, center, presents a Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund check to the Bike Box Project and Rock Steady Boxing, which supports people with Parkinson’s disease.
Lori Flowers has created a reputation for building up charitable events in the New Bern, North Carolina, area. For years, she’s devoted her time and organizational talents to planning successful fundraisers — from pulling a firetruck to support a local boy with muscular dystrophy to a 40-mile bike ride raising funds for Parkinson’s research.
“The progress of these groups and events has been wonderful, and Weyerhaeuser’s financial help has been huge,” Lori says. “Volunteering brings all kinds of people together. I love working for a company that enables me to help others in need.”
And her contributions to both the community at large and the company culture at our Timberlands office in our Vanceboro, North Carolina, don’t go unnoticed.
“Lori’s contributions span an impressive array of initiatives, each targeting a unique need within the community,” one of her nominators said. “Not only does Lori’s volunteerism bolster awareness and help raise thousands of dollars for local needs and for combating devastating diseases, it also cultivates team spirit and togetherness at her North Carolina Timberlands location.”
For her dedication to human services, civics, culture and public safety, Lori was named one of our 2025 Volunteers of the Year. As part of the award recognition, she received a $5,000 TREE-mendous Matching Gifts reward, which she plans to distribute among a number of local organizations.
Lori and Bike Box Project Bernin’ to the Beach race founder Bethany Richards in Oct. 2025.
MEET LORI
Tell us a bit about your day job.
I’ve been with the company for almost 30 years. My current role is experienced financial analyst at our Timberlands location in Vanceboro, North Carolina, which is just north of New Bern. I’m responsible for making sure we have our contracts in place and our bills are processed. I help with SAP Concur, the travel and expense-reporting software, and since I’m embedded with operations, I answer employee questions regarding almost anything.
What did you think when you found out about the award?
I was so excited and honored! I’m proud to be part of a company that sees the importance of our local communities, and one willing to allow me the time and the financial support through TREE-Mendous Matching Gifts to keep these events and sponsorships going.
What motivates you to volunteer?
I see people’s struggles in the community. Some people just need an advocate to stand up for them and say that they need help, be it with housing, food insecurity or another challenge. It makes me feel good. So, it’s a little selfish in that regard, but it’s also rewarding.
Lori and her grandson Gavi participating in Gavin’s Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk school fundraiser.
Tell us about the nonprofits you work with. What made you choose them?
The main one is the Bike Box Project, a nonprofit that raises awareness and funds for people with Parkinson’s disease. When I first met Bethany, the founder and CEO, she told me she needed help with “a little bicycle ride.” Over the nine years I’ve been involved with the project, the “little” bike ride has grown exponentially! Last October, 100 cyclists participated in our 10th annual Bernin’ to the Beach ride.
Bike Box Project’s program Rock Steady Boxing uses boxing training to help people with Parkinson’s improve their mobility, strength and coordination. It doesn’t cure the disease, but it helps to slow its progression. With Weyerhaeuser’s support, Rock Steady Boxing went from using a small gym to owning a large facility.
Another group that’s important to me is New Bern Pride. Weyerhaeuser sponsors their game night, and this past year was our first time sponsoring the New Bern Pride prom. We had a table set up, and when the parents and participants came through before the prom started, I had so many parents tell me how happy they were that Weyerhaeuser was standing behind the local LGBTQIA+ community.
There’s also New Bern’s annual Fire Truck Pull, which raises funds for Hope for Harrison, a nonprofit that supports research for neuromuscular disorders. I happened to meet the founder of the organization, Jessie Aldridge, whose son Harrison has muscular dystrophy, and I told her I could put together a crew to pull a fire truck.
Lori recruits coworkers at our Vanceboro office to participate in the annual Fire Truck pull event.
What are the community challenges you see that you’re trying to address with this work?
We have an aging population, and we’re trying to keep the younger generations here. There’s food insecurity and housing needs. I think it’s great Weyerhaeuser wants young people here, too. We partner with community colleges as well as pride, housing and veterans’ groups to address these challenges.
What’s your favorite part of the work?
Organizing is my forte, so I like planning events. It’s so rewarding to see how happy people are at the end of the Bernin’ to the Beach race. I love that we can come together to help others.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to give back but doesn’t know how?
You can Google local 501(c) organizations in your area to see a list of what’s available. I guarantee you’ll find something that touches your heart. You don’t have to donate money; you can just volunteer your time. You can reach out to a your local Giving Fund representative or look on our Roots Citizenship page or our TREE-Mendous Matching Gifts Portal to find other ideas, too.
How have you benefitted or been changed from volunteering?
The selfish part is the good feeling I get when I know I’ve helped someone. Some people may want the recognition, but it’s pretty cool to do it anonymously as well. Volunteering gets you out of your comfort zone.
I’ve made a lot of new friends through volunteering, and those friends introduced me to other groups I didn’t even realize existed. I want to give a shout-out to my role model Tara Dickson, one of my colleagues here at our Vanceboro office who was a 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
Lori, center, and John Eide, far left, present a Giving Fund donation to the Adaptive Surf Project, which helps everyone experience the thrill of surfing with specialty surfboards, chairs and mats.
What’s next in your volunteer plans for the year ahead?
At a Giving Tuesday event in December, I learned there are quite a few new organizations in New Bern. One is Paws for a Cause, which is an organization that trains dogs for veterans. I know I’ll be helping with that one.
There’s also a group looking for people to provide transportation for local veterans, driving a bus to take them to their appointments. I’m going to get my foresters involved with that. I’m so excited about the new groups.
How are you distributing your $5,000 TREE-Mendous Matching Gifts grant?
I’ll have to sit down and calculate the need. It’ll be distributed among several different groups. I’m going to see what they’re asking for and distribute the grant accordingly.
