You may have walked past Alexandra Prepsky on a frigid evening when she was a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. You probably wouldn’t have seen her when she volunteered as a reader at the Ypsilanti District Library or when she was tutoring children from low-income families.

Alexandra’s volunteer work is quiet work, but it means a lot to the people with whom she comes in contact. Just ask Willis Richardson.

Because of Alexandra, Richardson can go to church each week knowing that his wife, bedridden after a stroke, is safe. Church is vital to Richardson, who traveled the world doing missionary work.

“When the weather is bad, I try to discourage her from coming,” Richardson said. He fears for her out on the treacherous, snowy roads. But she braves them anyway.

It's for Alexandra's volunteer work and giving spirit that she was nominated for AnnArbor.com's Young Citizen of the Year Award.

Alexandra says she's the one who's benefitted from her time with Richardson.

“He’s always telling me about his travels, and he’s always telling me and inspiring me. He used to volunteer, and he inspires me to do that,” she said.

“I pray for her success,” Richardson said.

Alexandra works as a hospice volunteer through Heartland Hospice in Ann Arbor.

A gifted pianist, Alexandra also spends much of her time giving lessons.

She plans to study languages when she heads off to Kalamazoo College. She has many ideas for her future, including maybe one day working for the United Nations or volunteering through the Peace Corps. Although she is not certain what she wants to do, she would like to do work in third-world countries.

“I kind of feel for other people. Like if someone else is suffering, I kind of feel it myself,” she said. “Your needs aren’t the only ones that matter.”