You are in: Volunteer of the Year
While the Salvation Army has millions of
hard-working volunteers, we have created four categories in which we recognize
"Volunteer of the Year" awards to those who demonstrate exceptional charity.
Our categories include:
Individual Volunteer of the Year
Organization Volunteer of the Year
Youth Volunteer of the Year
Family Volunteer
of the Year
Below are brief profiles showing the dedication and outstanding contributions of this year's Volunteer of the Year awardees.
2010 Individual Awardee- Karen Wolford
Karen mirrored 'Doing the most good' the last eight years of life after meeting the Army through the Royal Oak, Michigan, Corps' women's ministries. She began volunteering for social service projects at the corps and at the disaster services office and warehouse. She spent many nights in canteens serving refreshments and comfort with her kind spirit and wonderful smile to emergency workers. she did odd jobs at the divisional camp, assisted in an annual radiothon, made apple pies for the corps' Girl Guards bake sale, pasties for the corps' World Services/Self Denial fundraiser and stocked its temporary warming shelter with food and blankets.
Karen also volunteered for schools' anti-drug DARE programs, the Spalding Children's Center and even found time for animal shelters. Sadly, Karen died soon after she was nominated for this award. Her son, Rodney, accepted it on her behalf.
2010 Organization Awardee - BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.
The Salvation Army in the Kansas City, MO, metropolitan area has benefited greatly from its association with BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. Its employees have helped with the Angel Tree program for 20 years and, in the last five years, conducted a similar drive for school supplies by using cards shaped like school buses! An employee raffle for Kansas City Royals baseball tickets donated by the company's president raised almost $700. Employees forfeited their holiday luncheon this past year so that funds could be used for those less fortunate; more than 2,000 people benefited. Employees also participated in the Million Meals for Haiti project and raised funds for disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the southeast Asia tsunami.
2010 Youth Awardee-Catherine Johnson
Catherine has many creative ideas for how a high school student can help The Salvation Army help others. For her 16th birthday, she asked family and friends to make donations to the Army instead of giving her presents. Her selfless decision raised $515!
Inspired to do even more, Catherine began a 'Salvation Army Club' at her high school in Indianapolis, IN. The club conducted clothing donation drives and assisted with Christmas bellringing. Recently she helped turn her school's winter formal dance into a 'service' dance where The Salvation Army Club collected money on dance tickets and donations of winter hats, scarves and gloves. More than 400 winter items were given along with $200 to support Salvation Army programs.
2010 Family Awardee-Gerold and Betty Garding
Central Minnesota has been blessed with two outstanding service extension volunteers.
Parents of six children and busy grandparents of many more, Gerold and Betty always find a way to reach others in need. For the past 37 years, they have donated much effort to bringing smiles to children at Christmas by collecting toys during the year to ensure each child receives at least three gifts; about 600 children are served each year. The program became a model for rural Minnesota, as did the Gardings' "Coats for the Community" project which collects winter wear and snow pants for disadvantaged children to play outside. Volunteer seamstresses make additional snow pants with donated material at the Gardings' home. Teen girls and young women benefit through the 'Her Special Day" program which collects used prom and wedding dresses with alterations provided by volunteers. The Gardings also collect school supplies and make weekly food pantry pick-ups from Wal-Mart and local farms.