One Volunteer, Two Uniforms: Sheila St. George’s Service Across Blaine Public Safety

BLAINE, MN.
On any given day in the North Metro, public safety work unfolds quietly, far from headlines. It happens at traffic posts, in community parking lots, behind the scenes of emergency scenes, and at folding tables where hot food is laid out for exhausted first responders. Much of that work depends on volunteers. Few embody that reality more fully than Sheila St. George.

St. George serves in dual volunteer roles with the Blaine Police Reserves and the Spring Lake Park–Blaine–Mounds View Fire Corps, bridging two departments that protect and serve communities across northern Anoka County. Her story offers a clear window into how modern public safety relies not only on sworn officers and career firefighters, but also on trained residents willing to give their time, skills, and care.

A Gateway to Service

St. George’s path began with Citizens Academy, a local government program designed to introduce residents to the inner workings of police and fire departments. The academy is often described as a civic education initiative. For St. George, it became something more. It revealed a practical way to contribute.

What followed was sustained involvement. Through the Blaine Police Reserves, St. George took on roles that act as a force multiplier for sworn officers. Reserve volunteers do not replace licensed law enforcement. Instead, they handle essential non enforcement tasks that allow officers to focus on emergency response and investigations.

Her work has included traffic and crowd control at large community events, visible retail details during peak shopping seasons, and participation in public outreach efforts that strengthen trust between the department and residents. These duties, while routine on paper, are foundational to everyday public safety operations.

Supporting the Front Lines

At the same time, St. George became deeply involved with the SBM Fire Corps, which serves the cities of Spring Lake Park, Blaine, and Mounds View. Fire Corps programs allow civilians to take on logistical and support responsibilities so firefighters can remain focused on suppression, rescue, and medical response.

Within that structure, St. George is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the culinary and rehabilitation team. During long duration incidents, training exercises, and major operations, fire and law enforcement personnel rely on timely food, hydration, and rest to remain effective and safe.

That support is not symbolic. It is operational.

During one major regional search effort, St. George logged 117 volunteer hours, helping ensure law enforcement teams were fed and cared for throughout extended shifts. In high stress situations such as missing person searches or prolonged tactical operations, rehabilitation support is directly tied to decision making, physical endurance, and responder safety.

Baking With Purpose

Outside of uniformed service, St. George is a self taught baker and the owner of Sheila Sweets. Her business is not separate from her volunteer work. It fuels it.

She regularly prepares homemade meals and baked goods for firefighters, police officers, and fellow volunteers, often under mobile or field conditions. Her approach reflects a broader truth about volunteerism. Skills developed in everyday life often become the most valuable tools in crisis.

Her care extends beyond first responders. St. George also quilts memory blankets for families, offering a tangible source of comfort during moments of loss or transition. The work is quiet, personal, and deeply intentional.

A Life Shaped by Courage and Reunion

Behind St. George’s public service is a personal journey marked by resilience. At 17, she made the difficult decision to place her son for adoption. Nearly 39 years later, he found her.

What followed was not simply a reunion, but the building of a daily relationship. Today, St. George speaks with her son every day and travels regularly to Missouri to spend time with him, her daughter in law, and her three grandchildren. The connection is central to her life and deeply cherished.

She is also a caregiver at home, balancing personal responsibility with extensive volunteer commitments. When asked why she continues to give so much of her time, her answer is simple. Service keeps her connected. To people. To purpose. To community.

The Backbone of Local Infrastructure

For departments like Blaine Police and the Spring Lake Park Blaine Mounds View Fire Department, volunteers like St. George are not supplemental. They are essential. Programs such as Citizens Academy, Police Reserves, and Fire Corps rely on residents who bring professionalism, compassion, and lived experience into public service roles.

St. George’s story underscores a broader truth. The strength of local infrastructure is measured not only by budgets and equipment, but by the people willing to show up consistently, often without recognition, and do the work that holds systems together.

Her impact proves that one person truly can make a difference across an entire public safety community.

Thank you, Sheila St. George, for your service to Blaine and beyond.

Residents interested in recognizing others who make a difference can submit a nomination for the Blaine Police Department’s Community Spotlight program at:
https://www.blainemn.gov/3885/Community-Spotlight

MinneapoliMedia