'Good Morning America' segment features Polson woman

The glaring spotlight of a national morning television show hasn’t knocked Nancy Hausermann off her game.

The determined Polson resident, who has been a model of community service in Lake County for more than 20 years, was busy packing Thanksgiving meals into boxes Tuesday morning, about a week before an interview with her was to air on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Hosts of the popular morning show will be discussing community involvement on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, and the segment will include a taped interview with Hausermann that was recorded earlier this week.

How and why producers tracked her down remains a mystery to her.

“I haven’t a clue,” she said Tuesday. “It’s really hard to say. However it got across, I’m so thankful to be able to get the word out. I love this community.”

Hausermann has been serving the community she loves in a number of ways over the years, primarily through raising funds and attracting volunteers to help feed those in need.

For a long time she would distribute food from her property on Rocky Point. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she started to focus her efforts on getting meals to those who were quarantined. The Polson Chamber of Commerce honored her service with its Citizen of the Year award in 2020.

She’s quick to point out that she doesn’t do it alone. On Tuesday she mentioned Jane and Jason Whealon as instrumental in helping distribute food. The couple also donates farm fresh eggs.

Her most recent project has been supplying Thanksgiving meals to the employees of local businesses who may be struggling.

She’s got a primary crew of four women who will help her get those meals out Friday.

“We’re focusing on small businesses in Polson and Ronan right now. And some meals will go to (Salish Kootenai College) as well.”

Several weeks ago she put out a call to local businesses to gauge the need.

“We contacted them and asked if they have any employees who are struggling. We got a huge response.”

She did the same thing last year, when they helped feed 73 families. This year’s target was about 70, but she said they’re up to 86-90 families so far.

Hausermann said that while she is often a catalyst for community involvement, credit should go to everyone who helps out in any way they can, whether it’s writing a check or donating a few cans of food when they can.

“I have a truck driver friend who’s been donating all but $200 a week from his check for many years now,” she said.

She said local businesses such as Super One, Ace Hardware and Safeway also have been instrumental, either by helping her gather items, accepting donations on her behalf or giving her space to distribute donations.

She uses her Facebook page to rally people to whatever cause she’s identified. She’s also helped folks with medical debt and helped get homeless people off the street in the past.

“The last two years is what’s been really important to me,” she said. “I have been praying, and I’m a strong believer in the power of prayer. I’m hoping for food to flood in, because I feel like we’re all heading for tough times. Then I got a call from ‘Good Morning America,’ which will help get the word out.”

Her health has been failing her the last few years, and she’s been relying more on help from others.

“Even with my disability, I can sure do my part,” she said. “I just do what I know in my heart needs to be done. But it’s the community that comes together because they want to help, too. I think it gives some relief from the stress of everything as people follow what we are doing as a community. And they love it.”

Hausermann said Tuesday that she was told her interview will air sometime between 11 a.m. and noon on Nov. 25. The best place to check for updates on the segment is her Facebook page.

Next up, she’s planning a Christmas event for Dec. 18.

“We’re gonna do a huge Christmas event this year.”

She's planning to hold it at Rocky Point and to have candy and toys for kids, as well as a stage with live Christmas music.