Thank you to our Wonderful Family of Volunteers!
Under the theme, “We are Family,” the Shelter for Abused Women & Children honored its 250 dedicated volunteers, April 8, with a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch at the Naples Grande. In 2014-15, Shelter volunteers logged an amazing 22,000 hours of service. If monetized, the total would exceed $495,000, based on figures from Nonprofit Quarterly.
“The Shelter is an organization founded on the support of community members who dedicate themselves to our mission,” said Jamie Garry, volunteer coordinator for The Shelter. “Today we honor and thank each and every one of you for your time, unbelievable effort, and gracious love given to The Shelter. Each volunteer contributes in their own way and, as a team you have all created a critically important network of support and encouragement for the survivors we serve.”
The morning’s festivities included colorful floral table decorations created by women and children in the agency’s emergency shelter.
The lion’s share of the volunteer hours were given at The Shelter’s Options Thrift Store, 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 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year was Carol Graham, who assists with The Shelter’s Peacemakers program. With Graham’s help, this children’s program was expanded to include therapeutic services that cover a variety of topics such as conflict resolution, what it means to be grateful and what emotions look and feel like.
“The many successes of the Peacemakers program are totally due to the fact that professionals like Carol were willing to assist,” said Shelter Youth Advocate Sandra Hack. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart and from the heart of every one of the children.”
Other outstanding Shelter volunteers included:
- Holiday Volunteers Maxine Robbins and June Ballew
- Administrative Volunteer Lois Castronova
- New Volunteer Declan McGarvey
- Guild Volunteers Ann Weatherwax, Cara Martin, Charlotte Tarr, Peg Melillo.
- Mending Broken Hearts With Hope Luncheon Volunteer Bette Aymar
- Options Volunteers Al Salata, Barbara Johnson, Eileen Johnson, Erika Aron and Irmgard Wannamaker
- Outreach Volunteer Shannon Holland
- Emergency Shelter Volunteer Barbara Ann Budd
Also honored was Faylee Goldstone, who was recognized for 1,296 hours of service in 2014-15. It was the second year in a row that Goldstone’s hours exceeded 1,000.
Volunteers with 10 or more years of service included Fred Adams, Phyllis Bond, Michelle Bright, Janice Carter, Carol Chapman, Maureen DiMarco, Eleanor Egerton, Sandra Estridge, Mary Greer, Lyn Hilliard, Hildegard Hudson, Shirley Hoerle, Patty Innamorati, Eileen Johnson, Barbara Johnson, Chris Kardon, Betty Keller, Patti Kipp, Barbara Lauber, Dotti Lawton, Milly Marshall, Ruth Mast, Jimany Sue McLaughlin, Diane Messana, Jan Miller, Lorraine Newcomb, Katy Olson, RaeAnn Patton, Annabella Richardi, Janice Rogers, Lorraine Rocklin, Jerry Shelpman, Sue Silber, Lois Spitzer and Betty Tinsler.
Shelter Executive Director Linda Oberhaus also shared a few words with those in attendance, stating “Whether volunteering at Options, in our emergency shelter, in administration, or on one of our boards, we appreciate the difference that you are making in the lives of some of the most vulnerable families in our community.”
Below: View the Volunteer Recognition Video that was presented at the Brunch
