Centered around the theme, “You are the Essential Piece,” The Shelter for Abused Women & Children honored its 450 dedicated volunteers, April 10, with a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Kensington Country Club. In 2017-18, Shelter volunteers logged over 21,000 hours of service. If monetized, the total would exceed $506,940, based on information from the Independent Sector.

The lion’s share of the volunteer hours were given at The Shelter Options Shoppe, but countless hours were also spent answering The Shelter’s crisis hotline, making copies, attending events, cleaning, organizing the food pantry or serving on various Shelter boards and committees.

This year’s Shelter Volunteer of the Year is Kathy Ridenour. In addition to serving as guild secretary and assisting with Shelter fundraising luncheons, Kathy is instrumental in administrative duties including organizing files, training and assisting volunteers in logging their hours. She also organizes a huge tennis tournament through her community to benefit The Shelter.

Other Outstanding Shelter volunteers for 201-18 included:

• Andy Davis, Outstanding Administration Volunteer
• Carole Beauregard & Laura Donovan, Outstanding Shelter Guild Volunteers
• Sharon Kiehl, Outstanding Mending Broken Hearts Volunteer
• Cathy Blair, Outstanding Emergency Shelter Volunteer
• Pat Wheeler, Outstanding Outreach Programs Volunteer
• Marie Wooldridge & Mary Ellen Felbig, Outstanding Options Volunteers

Volunteers with 10 or more years of service included Sandra Estridge – 22, Jimany Sue McLaughlin – 22, Annabella Richardi – 18, Barbara Johnson -17, Lorraine Newcomb – 16, Eileen Johnson – 15, Patti Kipp – 15, Diane Messana – 15, Chris Kardon – 14, Katy Olson -14, RaeAnn Patton -14, Pat Boyson – 13, Barb Lauber – 13, Janice Rogers – 13, Betty Tinsler – 13, Rita Collins – 12, Nancy Herbert -12, Norma Laird – 12, Shirley Neu – 12, Jan Smith – 12, Jean Travlos – 12, Irmgard Wannamaker – 12, Charlotte Werdell – 12, Carol Kulik -11, Minnie Longmire – 11, Molly Stanley – 11, Judye Baer, – 10, Patricia Murphy – 10, Loreen Sellitto – 10, and Pat Wheeler – 10.

Shelter Executive Director Linda Oberhaus also shared a few words with those in attendance, stating, “A puzzle piece by itself really isn’t much, but as pieces are joined together, and we find those perfect fits, we build something that is inclusive, complete, strong and beautiful. Thank you for being an essential piece of The Shelter’s puzzle.”