By Julie Keane, Globe staff reporter
April 29, 2004

Larry Eickholt may not be seen teaching the Holy Family Religious Education Program or hosting the program's events, but the St. Boniface parishioner is always helping out in the background and making sure the unseen tasks are done.

"I help Kathryn Keane, who is the director of religious education," said Eickholt, who has been helping the Holy Family Program for about 12 years. "I am her office runner and I help her out wherever she needs it. I help make copies for teachers, and if they need help I will be their guinea pig. "

He helps Keane prepare for the projects and special events and set up for the individual classes. He also helps with bookkeeping and the payment book.

Eickholt started helping with the behind the scenes work when his first child started kindergarten. He said he has continued volunteering at the classes because he knows he can be of help to the director and the children.

"I started to take my kids down there for CCD classes and the teacher asked me if I could help out," he said. "I figured I go there anyway so I might as well do something constructive."

He said that he tries to help at each class, but he sometimes has work or other obligations.

Although Eickholt attends the majority of the classes, he said he does not want to start teaching the classes. He said he likes helping the teachers and plans to continue volunteering.

"I like working with the kids," he said. "I do not have the patience to be a teacher so I thought this would be a good way to help out. I filled in a couple times here and there, but I am not good at planning things out, and I like it the way it is."

Eickholt said one of the most memorial times he had helping with the program was several years ago when one of the classes took a trip to Trinity Heights.

"One of the best times I had was when I took the eighth grade class to Trinity Heights and I stayed up there with them," he said.

Not only does Eickholt volunteer each week with the religious education classes, he also helps during parish activities. For example, he works at both the St. Boniface's spring and fall luncheons. He said he likes to be the person pouring the coffee because he can walk around and talk with all of the people attending.

"I feel like I am closer to the church by helping out and contributing more," Eickholt said about volunteering. "Instead of being on the outside looking in, I feel more like I belong."

Eickholt said that even though he is not the person teaching the classes or planning the events, he hopes he is teaching the children a lesson also.

"Even though you don't play a big part, there are still small things that you can do to help out in the church," Eickholt said. "I keep doing this because I like the kids, and I feel like I am helping the kids out when I am doing this."