12/9/24 – This nomination recognizes more than two dozen organizations and groups that have faithfully served meals at the Helen Wright Center, a 73-bed facility that provides services for homeless women. The Center offers women home-cooked meals almost every night. Scores of families, churches, and civic associations volunteer to prepare, deliver, and serve those meals. During COVID, meals were often dropped off, but now more of these helpers enter the facility to serve (and even to sit down and share) meals with Helen Wright guests. Over the past ten years, these volunteer groups have provided nutrition, service, and a touch of home for the homeless. 

12/9/24 – Tom Cavender has served on the board of the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of Durham & Wake for several years. As Board President, he led the merging of two very large Ronald McDonald House organizations: RMH of Durham & Wake and RMH of Chapel Hill. Tom was masterful in developing trust, personal transparency and a setting aside all allegiances to either existing organization for the greater good. Despite numerous hurdles, he led the alignment and unification of Board leadership, conducted a national search for and subsequently hired a CEO in September 2022, and completed the merger six months ahead of the given deadline. Tom worked nights and weekends (and some lunch periods!) throughout the merger and integration process to ensure this success. 

12/2/24 – Since the Assistance League’s founding in 1999, Nona Wright has been involved in all aspects of the organization. She was president from 2005-2007, and then became president for two more terms in 2021. Nona oversaw all programs including Operation School Bell, a program that supports local children in need. Under her guidance, volunteers provided support to 2,193 students in local schools, helped select 31 recipients of scholarships totaling $170,600, and oversaw 32,000+ patients comforted by Kids Place at UNC, WakeMed, and Duke Pediatric emergency departments. She also steered the Women in Need program to serve 5,480 meals to women and families in need and guided the League as they provided household items and financial assistance to families in transition. Nona is active in all programs and even finds time to support the marketing events to spread the Assistance League brand.

12/2/24 – Aaron Brothers has donated over 6,700 hours over 22 years at UNC REX Healthcare. He volunteers in PACU West Recovery and as an Ambassador in the main hospital. Aaron is always willing to do extra volunteer projects and goes the extra mile. His compassion, dedication, and caring attitude demonstrate that he believes in living a life of service. 

11/25/24 – The Triple Play League Coaches are instrumental to the success and development of the program. They serve as role models and mentors to the students in the league. Their goal is to bring out the best in each player and produce major league citizens. The coaches develop relationships with the families and use their special skills to make every player feel important. As a team, they help wherever needed to perform a variety of tasks — finding practice fields, running the scoreboard, picking up players for practice or games, helping recruit players and coaches, and banquet set-up and clean up. These extraordinary coaches help level the playing field for Triple Play League athletes, bridging the gap between baseball haves and have-nots. 

11/25/24 – Zaina Taha says that she was inspired by science and technology as a young child. Having great mentors to guide her and lend advice paved the way for Zaina to serve as a mentor for the Orange County Disability Awareness Council. Her passions are encouraging and empowering young girls interested in computer science careers to achieve more in science and technology, and helping people with disabilities learn to use special technology. At trade shows and other public events, Zaina assists people with vision loss in finding their seats. She helped the Council develop training templates, made phone calls to businesses for support, and taught veterans and people with disabilities how to use technology. 

11/18/24 – Senior PharmAssist’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteer counselors assist Medicare beneficiaries of Durham County with questions about Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare supplements, and Medicare Advantage Plans. They work with Senior PharmAssist staff to help seniors understand the intricacies of Medicare and assist them in navigating the many Medicare insurance options. They guide beneficiaries in considering options based upon medications and health priorities, equipping them with the information they need to make their own Medicare decisions. They help to provide balanced, unbiased, and accurate information. 

Group members: Peter Adland, Theresa Aherns, Shelley Beason, Betty Jean “BJ” Boyarsky, Collette Driscoll, Bruce Hays, Henry Luftman, Lisa Nadler, Roslyn Muse, Allison Rice, Debra Taylor

11/18/24 – Walter Thurman (Mr. Wally) first came to the Raleigh Boys Club in the 1980s as a reading tutor for boys. After a “brief” sabbatical to raise a family, he returned to the Club in 2011. He began helping with math club and related activities, including Mathletes, a structured program that recognizes different math proficiency levels. Each week, Mr. Wally helps the Club make learning and practicing math fun. Playing games with the kids, awarding prizes, and coming up with other activities to foster engagement, Mr. Wally has helped many students improve their math skills — and their self-esteem! Students enjoy Mr. Wally’s Mathletes sessions so much that some have been known to “slip out” of the concurrent Power Hour/Homework Help session to go to Mr. Wally’s room. 

11/11/24 – For over 25 years, Kathy Godfrey has donated over 23,000 hours sewing baby caps and volunteering at the Information Desk in the main lobby at UNC REX. Kathy puts her heart into everything she does. Her contagious enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to helping others, help make patient and guest stressful visits more peaceful. 

11/11/24 – Marcia Susan Yager-Zorn founded a pandemic-friendly fundraiser called the Phantom Tea for the DAR’s Project Patriot Committee. This year, the Phantom Tea and other fundraisers generated over $9,000 in donations. The funds were used to purchase clothing for Landstuhl Hospital in Germany and boxes of treats for people aboard NC Navy subs. She helped the DAR connect with Vets to Vets United, an organization that trains shelter dogs as service animals. Training the dogs is costly, so Marci and her committee asked members and friends to honor their own pets by sending the pets’ photos along with a donation. A montage of the photos was presented to Vets to Vets United. Marci has an upbeat personality, faith in who she is serving, kindness for all who work with her, and an ability to inspire hope. 

11/4/24 – Steven Schaffer brings his valuable woodworking expertise to Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nonprofit that supplies beds to kids in need. He is SHP’s go-to guy when it comes to measuring, marking, and cutting the wood. Without his watchful eye, hundreds or even thousands of dollars could be wasted from inaccurate cuts. From start to finish, Steve makes sure that SHP builds good quality, safe beds for the kids. He and his teams have provided beds for more than 75 children. In 2022, he delivered beds to over 30 different families and traveled over 750 miles for deliveries. On December 21, 2022, Steve personally delivered Durham SHP’s 800th bed. 

11/4/24 – Priscilla Dennings stands out among the hundreds of volunteers who make it possible for Meals on Wheels (MOW) to provide meals to over 1,300 seniors throughout the county. Volunteers like Priscilla improve these seniors’ lives, ensuring that they get a daily visitor, a meal, and a wellness check. For more than five years, she has regularly volunteered with MOW, often twice a week. She followed the Wake Forest Branch through three different site moves, never faltering. In 2022, Pricilla completed 23 hours of volunteer work, drove more than 126 miles, and delivered hundreds of meals. 

10/28/24 – Dr. Jim Smith is a board certified psychiatrist with a long and successful career in health and human services. As a Board Chair at both Wake County Health and Human Services and Urban Ministries of Wake County, Dr. Smith advised commissioners and county management on human services needs. At Urban Ministries, he recruited a diverse board and led by example in both “giving and getting” funds and resources for the agency. His work in forensic psychiatry, substance use disorders, and general psychiatry served Urban Ministries well as the organization added behavioral health to its Open Door Clinic and Helen Wright Center for homeless women. A former military physician, Dr. Smith has served his country, his county, his community, and several agencies in his zeal to improve health services and health outcomes for historically underserved populations. 

10/28/24 – The Orange County Disability Awareness Council relies on volunteers for assistance with various tasks, from technology support to event planning. Jason Sorin updates databases, enhances the Council’s website accessibility, and teaches individuals with disabilities how to use technology and software. He assists senior citizens and veterans in completing applications and resumes and has a proven track record of achieving positive outcomes with at-risk youth. Additionally, he researched and planned a technology lab/store equipped with the tools that people with disabilities need most. Jason has saved the Council money through technical troubleshooting and repairs, and he has strengthened its social media presence by sharing engaging human interest stories. He utilizes his skills and expertise to support those who struggle with the complexities of technology and software.   

10/21/24 – Jane Silver loves to volunteer. She claims that she’s “just bored”, but it’s quite obvious that she is dedicated and enjoys volunteering with Meals on Wheels (MOW). Jane can do it all! She’s a substitute delivery driver, often delivering five days a week. She is also a Set-Up volunteer, prepping the meals before delivery volunteers arrive to pick them up. Jane often comes in early to set up and then heads out to deliver meals. She is also a trained office volunteer who can cover for MOW any time they are short on staff or have an emergency. Whatever Jane does, she does with a positive attitude and sense of humor.

10/21/24 – Deanna Sedlak began volunteering with Piedmont Wildlife Center (PWC) as an evening (PM) raptor care feeder. When she heard that the Center was in need, Deanna asked to be trained as an AM raptor care feeder, which is much more involved and time consuming. Because her Thursday evenings are devoted to training owls and hawks, she has been able to pick up and drop off PWC’s outreach animals at many events in Durham, Wake, and Chatham counties. She attended ten out of twenty outreach events in 2022 and is one of PWC’s most dedicated outreach volunteers. Deanna brings a sense of confidence, humor, willingness to learn and teach, and community every time she is at the Center or any of its events. 

10/21/24 – Royce Dean (pictured below in blue) and Norb Stanizewski (in red) are regular volunteers with Durham Habitat’s Carolina Arbors group. They co-lead this group on new home construction sites. Both have put in extra time as crew leaders to manage other construction volunteer groups on job sites. Their assistance and guidance is deeply appreciated. Together, they have contributed hundreds of hours of service to help build affordable homes in Durham County. 

10/14/24 – Cathy Schoenherr is a dedicated member of Animal Care Volunteer Team who volunteers weekly, taking care of the Farmyard animals at the Museum of Life and Science. Rain or shine, cold or hot temperatures, she is outside raking and shoveling yards, providing the Farmyard animals with enriching and clean habitats and proper nutrition. With her knowledge and skills, Cathy leads by example and encourages other volunteers to be the best that they can be. As a bonus, she lends her impressive talents as a tailor to mending winter coats for the animals and providing blankets for the outreach animals. Through her donation of time and talents, Cathy uplifts the Animal Care Team at the Museum of Life and Science. 

10/7/24 – As a junior at Green Level High School in Cary, Harshil Garg recognized the pressing issue of preventable drowning in children under 15 years old. In response, he established Project Aqua-Survivors, a water safety education program that would provide “Hope for Life in Water.” Over the past year, he planned and executed the program, making it an annual summer initiative under the guidance of Project Phoenix, run by the Cary Police Department. Instead of relying on charitable donations, Harshil utilized his swimming skills, coaching 10 kids over the summer and earning $1200. He then conducted three one-hour sessions at each of several Cary apartment communities. In total, 18 children attended the program, receiving the “gift of life” from Harshil. 

10/7/24 – Brenda Schafer has been a faithful volunteer with Urban Ministries’ Hunger and Nutrition Program for nearly ten years. She helped shape how the Hunger and Nutrition program serves our neighbors in need. Pre-pandemic, it was a best practice “client-choice” program, where “shoppers” used a grocery cart to choose products from food pantry shelves. Brenda would suggest, print, and distribute recipes to assist shoppers in enjoying the fresh produce available. Brenda helps prepare 85 28-pound healthy food boxes of frozen meat, produce, eggs, milk, and canned goods each day she volunteers. She assists with food drives, unloading product as it comes in wholesale and from community partners. Brenda was the first person to join our volunteer Board of Directors as a person with experience in the food space and also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board. She will assume the role of Chair on July 1, 2025. Brenda is a gift to the Urban Ministries organization. 

10/7/24 – Joe and Starra Porrazzo have been volunteering with the Miracle League since 2005. Their list of volunteer activities is varied and lengthy; they coached the Miracle League Yankees for seventeen years, recruited players and volunteers, worked clinics, fundraising and event planning, did set-up/clean-up for events, served as Miracle League ambassadors to their church, attended resource fairs, trained new coaches, and mentored volunteers. They also have done administrative tasks such as making presentations, securing equipment, ordering uniforms, and writing thank you notes. Joe and Starra are two of the best volunteers the Miracle League has.  

9/30/24 – Vivian Oney has volunteered with Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM) for over ten years. The pandemic created many challenges, and in Granville County, furloughed workers, seniors, and families turned to ACIM for help with food. Many in the community and beyond stepped up to make monetary donations so the food bank could continue to have enough shelf-stable items to distribute to its neighbors. Vivian never faltered in her self-appointed task of sending contributors a letter acknowledging that their donations had been received. She insisted on providing the stamps, printing the letters, and stuffing the envelopes. Vivian keeps contributors informed about that the good work their donations are doing to help feed the hungry.

9/23/24 – Amazing Val and magnificent Mike Ostoyich are a super-duo who began volunteering with Meals on Wheels (MOW) in 2017, continued through COVID and are still dedicated volunteers. They are currently taking a little medical leave but are on the Set-Up team with other Monday volunteers. Mike unloads meals from the caterer’s van, and then loads them into volunteers’ delivery vehicles. Val bags berries for over 275 meals and provides a variety of baked goods each week. Last year, Val started a new program to make flower arrangements for our meal recipients. Her group of volunteers arranges donated flowers in their fabulous specially-made, hand-crafted vases. She coordinates with another volunteer group that creates handmade cards for meal recipients each week. The hand-delivered treats, flowers, and cards bring joy to so many in the MOW community. We are EXTREMELY lucky to have them as volunteers!

9/16/24 – Bob and Dana Petersen have volunteered with the Meals on Wheels Cary branch for more than five years. They even volunteered throughout the COVID pandemic. In 2022, they completed 50 hours of combined service, drove more than 350 miles, and delivered hundreds of meals. The Petersons run multiple routes, cover open routes at the last minute, and are very reliable. Dana often brings extra goodies for clients, and this past year delivered Christmas cards to the staff. They helped recruit new volunteers and have brainstormed plans to re-engage dormant volunteers. Bob and Dana are a truly dedicated, hardworking team that goes above and beyond. 

9/9/24 – The Wheels4Hope donation program is dedicated to providing affordable transportation to people with modest means. Ken Petit has personally assessed and repaired hundreds of cars since joining the Wheels4Hope team in 2011. He researches the repairs needed, consults with his team, and makes the repairs happen. He once found the underlying cause of a Toyota’s strange clicking noise when nobody else could, refusing to give up until he found the answer and could make the repair. In addition to his regular shifts, Ken recently volunteered to drive a newly acquired tow truck until a regular driver is hired. Repairing donated cars quickly and safely is the heartbeat of Wheels4Hope. Ken keeps that heartbeat strong every day that he volunteers. 

9/2/24 – Chuck Padvorac has been a part of the Miracle League since 2010. Although his team played on Saturday mornings this year, you’d find Chuck at the Cary Miracle League field all afternoon, watching past players or substituting for absent coaches. Behind home plate, he helps batters with their grip and swing, reassuring them when they struggle for a hit. During the off season, Chuck reaches out to his players and their families and attends Miracle League get-togethers, where he greets players at the door to let them know they are welcome and have been missed. Chuck has been known to stay in touch with families, even after their child has aged out of his team. He has had, and continues to have, a positive influence on many lives. 

8/26/24 – After retiring from his practice, Dr. Shep McKenzie began volunteering at Urban Ministries Open Door Clinic. Two to four times each month, he provides gynecologic consultation to uninsured patients. Dr. McKenzie also volunteers with a group of retired physicians who plant, maintain, and harvest a vegetable garden located on Capital Boulevard. This group of “master gardeners” helps supply Urban Ministries’ Hunger and Nutrition Program with farm-to-healthy food box products for 85 families. Their efforts make the process of providing fresh produce more real and personal for Urban Ministries’ many shoppers. Dr. McKenzie is an active clinic volunteer, in a white coat for Monday clinics and an active gardener in jeans and work clothes.

8/19/24 – Melanie Loury manages the Tuesday evening Litter Box Team at the shelter, switching out dirty litter boxes for clean ones, performing repairs and maintenance, and supervising up to five other volunteers. Her previous volunteer responsibilities—as Ambassador to the SAFE Care Clinic and performing administrative duties for the Pet Food Pantry—were instrumental in moving those two outreach programs forward. Melanie is a gift to SAFE Haven — always in great spirits, a true steward of nonprofit volunteerism and a champion for the animals.

8/12/24 – Kien Lao is a regular volunteer with Habitat’s trim crew and a true advocate for its work in Durham County. His knowledge and experience in painting and trim work have helped construction teams complete work on many homes. As a crew leader, Kien assists site staff, leading large groups in myriad tasks. His kind and patient demeanor are valuable assets, and Durham Habitat is grateful for his many years of service and care for the community. 

8/5/24 – Benjie Hester has been a volunteer with the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina’s (DA-NC) Music & Memory at Home program since it first began in 2019. Each week, she spends hours creating personalized playlists for people living with dementia. Benjie works closely with family caregivers to refine playlists and ensure the music provided is meaningful and fine tuned to the personal preferences of the recipient. Personalized music is a unique and powerful therapeutic for people living with dementia, and Benjie has brought joy and wellbeing to hundreds of North Carolinians with her tireless efforts and dedication.

7/29/24 – For fifteen years, Catherine Hester has been instrumental in facilitating connections between the Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL) and satellite site programming at JFK Towers. She has helped build relationships between DCSL and JFK Tower residents, which are crucial to the development of programs that meet resident needs. Catherine also served on DCSL’s Senior Advisory Committee. Her volunteer efforts are thorough and consistent, and she brings a wealth of compassion and wisdom to all that she does.

7/22/24 – The Ronald McDonald House Family Room offers family and caregivers of hospitalized pediatric patients a special place of respite, relaxation, and privacy within UNC hospital walls. Roma Janette began volunteering in 2018, reliably staffing the Room and faithfully upholding hospital and Family Room policies. When the Family Room reopened after COVID, Roma was one of the few volunteers who returned. Her experience and dependability provided the coverage needed to keep the Family Room open and reintroduce its services to hospital staff. While new volunteers were trained, Roma selflessly picked up as many as three or four uncovered shifts a week. 

7/15/24 – Leah Kraus provides leadership in every aspect of Digital Durham’s operation. She is a founding member of the Board, currently serves as the Treasurer and contributes to several committees and working groups. She applies her experience in higher ed leadership to guide strategic discussions, manage projects, and mentor others in the organization. Her voice is respected by colleagues and she sets a high standard of commitment and exceptional performance in all she does. She coordinated our first fundraiser, helped write our first major grant, and recruited new member organizations. She volunteers at public events and promotes digital equity in speaking engagements. Her dedication to the Durham community and extensive knowledge of technology are a huge asset to Digital Durham and our community at large. 

7/8/24 –Tim Lansing is a hard worker and completely dependable volunteer. Durham Habitat can always count on him to show up and collaborate with site supervisors about whatever needs doing each day. Because he has devoted years of service to Habitat, Tim offers many helpful insights and suggestions about home-building. When our previous volunteer leader stepped down, Tim stepped up as the framing crew’s group leader, bringing to the role great competence and success. He also regularly assists Habitat staff in leading large onsite volunteer groups. Tim is a true pleasure to work with and be around.

7/1/24 – Patricia Gress took on a leadership role during the COVID pandemic, showing up almost daily to volunteer for Western Wake Crisis Ministry (WWCM). As the pandemic waned, WWCM relied on Trisha to train new volunteers and ensure pantry operations continued. She learned how to communicate with and direct grocery store partners and navigate the client and donor database. She led small groups in packing and delivering groceries during major food distribution events. In 2021, Trisha joined the WWCM Board of Directors. She lends a unique voice to the Board as a member who sees and participates in the organization’s day-to-day operations. Her contributions have made WWCM stronger and a better resource for its neighbors in crisis.

6/24/24 – Indrani Das is a dedicated volunteer for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. For years, she has consistently shown up every week to prepare classroom materials that help keep students safe from sexual abuse and violence. With her assistance, the center has served 15,000 young people and their families every year through critical health education services. Indrani is the unsung hero of the Center’s youth education program.

6/17/24 – Zella and Leon Bracy established the NC-Fuquay-Varina Chapter of SHP in July, 2020. Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) supplies beds to kids in need. Each bed is built and installed in the child’s home, complete with bedding. This past year, they led a core team and countless volunteers to build and deliver 300 twin beds to children within their service area. Passionately embracing SHP’s mission statement, “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!,” Zella and Leon anticipate providing at least 300 more beds each year to local children in need of one of their own. 

As of today, Zella and Leon have spearheaded the delivery of 1,014 fully furnished beds to bedless children ages 3-17 within their service area.

6/10/24 – Jim Elza has been a stalwart volunteer for Durham Habitat. For years, he led a group of volunteers from Carolina Preserve almost every Wednesday, doing whatever work was needed. In 2020 and 2021, he and his group transitioned to building sheds and became Durham Habitat’s reliable “Shed Crew.” Jim regularly came out to the site to ensure that work was done in accordance with plans and in a timely manner. In his years of service, he has worn countless hats, serving in many areas of need. Durham Habitat is grateful for his years of dedicated service. 

Jim retired from service with Habitat in 2023, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the Durham community.

6/3/24 – The Delia Family has been volunteering with Miracle League since 2016. As head coach, Rick encourages and guides players to stand and hold the bat correctly, understand base-running mechanics and ball-fielding, and maintain a cheerful outlook. The family joins Rick in cheering on players while also running the dugouts, ensuring safety, and keeping players engaged in the game. Beyond game-time, the family creates team practice plans, divides players into teams for scrimmages, and sends out emails to keep the team and parents informed on weekly points of emphasis. They also help first-time parents understand what the League does and encourages them to assist with games as base coaches and scorekeepers. The family has devoted 1,500 combined hours of service and mentored more than fifty players thus far.

5/28/24 – Steven Esthimer has been with TABLE for so long that he has become a friend to every staff member, volunteer, and family that TABLE serves (as well as their pets!). Steve helps deliver bags of food to kids three times a week and encourages his friends to volunteer along with him. He often takes new volunteers under his wing to show them the ropes. He hosts mini-staff retreats at his home so that staff can connect and build relationships outside of the office. As if that weren’t enough, Steve is the on-call repair person. He is a gem with a heart of gold.

5/20/24 – Anna Bengel currently serves as the Board Secretary and Chair of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee for Piedmont Wildlife Center (PWC). She provides marketing expertise to staff members, supports staff with written letters, leads effective press release training, and helps with timelines, feedback, and editing for marketing campaigns. This past year, her marketing efforts helped PWC surpass fundraising goals by an average of 93%. Anna volunteers at numerous outreach events, positively representing the board and making guests feel welcome. She is always willing to step outside of her comfort zone and “do more” to help animals and be a cheerleader and mentor for staff.

5/13/24 –  For twenty years, Durham Chapter of the Links has partnered with Families Moving Forward (FMF) to help families in crisis due to homelessness. Through their workplace initiatives, the Links give families gift cards to purchase school items or clothing for new jobs. Their Champions for Change program trains and encourages families to be their own advocates and make changes in the community. The Links even provides a stipend to all three of our Executive Champions for their role in leading Champions of Change. They host a monthly workshop for parents as well as one for youth. The Links are a team of passionate, dedicated volunteers who go all out to serve our families in ways that are most beneficial to them.

5/6/24 – Dave Durham joined Meals on Wheels (MOW) in 2012 and has given 100% since his first day. He has had a regular weekly route and has served as a Volunteer Daychair, coordinating with other delivery volunteers that day, making sure that all delivery routes are covered. If others are unavailable to deliver, Dave is quick to step in — no matter how rainy, snowy, or last-minute. He keeps his schedule clear to be MOW’s #1 standby guy and is invariably positive and easy-going. Dave goes the extra mile for meal recipients and always does it with a smile!

4/29/24 – Joe Dew has an exceptional ability to strategically plan long and short-term directives, perform financial oversight, and raise funds to help deliver the Miracle League’s mission. He has been involved with the League since 2006, seeing an opportunity for his son, Bryson, to play a game he loves, be a teammate, and become part of a community that celebrates players with unique needs. Joe is Secretary of the Board, serves on the Executive Committee, and is an integral part of the planning and execution of the annual Joy Gala fundraiser. This past year, he operated one of the Miracle League’s largest fundraising events, committing over 100 hours to planning and serving as keynote speaker. Joe received praise for delivering one of the most heart-warming, mission-driven speeches the event has ever had. 

4/22/24 – Shelia & Burnice Allen are devoted to the mission of Hannah’s Community Kitchen, which assists marginalized and food insecure people of Durham and surrounding counties. The Allens faithfully volunteer three days a week and often work beyond their scheduled shift. Without hesitation, they answer emergency calls for additional assistance such as picking up food from the Angier Avenue Food Bank or delivering to homebound clients. Burnice and Shelia are considerate and thoughtful to clients and other volunteers alike.

4/15/24 – Barb is always willing to lend a helping hand when there is a need. While she regularly volunteers for three two-hour shifts each week, she often logs extra shifts when someone calls out. Barb helps in many areas of daily operations — cleaning, socializing the dogs, and working at events. In addition, she donates regularly to help purchase wish list items and contribute to animals’ medical funds and adoption fees. She eagerly assists other volunteers as needed and welcomes every person with a friendly face. Dedicated, dependable, and constantly thinking of others, Barb is a volunteer Paws4ever couldn’t do without!

4/8/24 –  Kathy Claspell is the foundation of the Museum of Durham History’s volunteer crew. She is always enthusiastic about collaborating with museum staff and volunteers. She greets every guest with a smile or kind word. She’s willing to help with any task the Museum might need and is a regular face in the organization. Kathy is a prime example of what exceptional guest services in a museum should look like. 

4/1/24 – From her work with the Orange County Disability Awareness Council (OCDAC), Roshni Daruvuri has learned that “In a just and inclusive community, no one is defined by disabilities, ethnicity, age, gender, race, or ability; everyone is treated equally and given equal opportunity.” Roshni’s passion for helping OCDAC foster self-sufficiency and independence inspired her neighbors to donate 2,000 articles of clothing. She has actively promoted numerous fundraisers and served as lead tech intern, using her considerable computer science skills to research, tutor, and teach computer skills to people with disabilities. One of Roshni’s outstanding qualities is her willingness to work weekends and nights if needed. 

3/25/24 – Tim Carr has volunteered with The Carying Place for seventeen years. As Chair of the Properties Committee, he assesses and guides the organization in implementing needed improvements to its thirteen properties. He not only assists with grant writing, but also continues to help The Carying Place find and purchase properties.

3/18/24 – Robert Brooks began his journey with the Miracle League in 2013 when he and some co-workers volunteered as “buddies,” offering assistance to players with special needs. As an assistant coach and later head coach for over nine years, Rob helped create positive life experiences through baseball for children and adults with special needs. During the spring of 2022, he led break-out sessions to train new coaches. This past fall, he took on a third team after learning that a Saturday afternoon team was shorthanded on coaches. The Miracle League is a celebration of friendship. Thankfully, it’s a place where Rob Brooks has committed himself to make a difference and make a friend. 

3/11/24 – Since 2001, Anna Baird Choi has served the NC DAR at many levels within the organization. She was Vice Regent, Regent, and Parliamentarian for the Caswell-Nash chapter. She also served as the state’s Recording Secretary, Vice Regent, Regent, and Parliamentarian and chaired the national Bylaws Committee. She is responsible for creating an acquisitions fund for the DAR headquarters museum and fundraising for Crossnore Community Schools. Anna sells NC-themed scarves and jewelry to fund these projects. Her knowledge of parliamentary procedure, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills are second only to her overall commitment and servant leadership.

3/4/24 – Molly Bailey has been a member of the Assistance League since its 1997 inception. She has served in many roles, including Vice President of Philanthropic Programs, Chair of the monthly newsletter, and A-Z Thrift Shop Volunteer Scheduler. The Thrift Shop generates funding used to meet the needs of Triangle area students, provide scholarships, support young emergency patients, and serve meals to women and families in need. Since COVID, Molly has often stepped in to work in the shop, sometimes doing double shifts. Her role in keeping the Thrift Shop open and staffed is crucial to Assistance League’s mission. In May 2022, Molly was the peer-nominated recipient of the organization’s Founder’s Award. has been a member of the Assistance League since its 1997 inception. She has served in many roles, including Vice President of Philanthropic Programs, Chair of the monthly newsletter, and A-Z Thrift Shop Volunteer Scheduler. The Thrift Shop generates funding used to meet the needs of Triangle area students, provide scholarships, support young emergency patients, and serve meals to women and families in need. Since COVID, Molly has often stepped in to work in the shop, sometimes doing double shifts. Her role in keeping the Thrift Shop open and staffed is crucial to Assistance League’s mission. In May 2022, Molly was the peer-nominated recipient of the organization’s Founder’s Award.

2/26/24 – Since 2017, Bruce Ballentine has served as a Habitat volunteer project manager. When site and infrastructure work began in 2022, he was on site almost daily, ensuring contractors’ work. Bruce provided invaluable knowledge and expertise on legal issues, selection of market rate builders, landscaping, amenity design, architecture, contract writing, and negotiation. He also led regular tours of the property for donors and elected officials, helping Habitat raise more than $7,000,000 for the project. Thanks to Bruce’s selflessness and generosity, thousands of lives will be positively changed.

2/19/24 – Gail Abrams volunteers with Piedmont Wildlife Center (PWC), an organization dedicated to encouraging conservation and cultivating lifelong connections with nature through immersive outdoor education, citizen science, and wildlife stewardship. As a member of the Raptor team, she attends outreach events and helps with building projects. Gail redesigned a boardwalk to cover a large, flood-prone area and rebuilt the foundation for an outdoor raptor enclosure. She also leads PWC’s public Owl Prowl programs, takes birds to senior centers, and mentors staff members who care for and train birds. Until her retirement in 2017, Gail served as the Executive Director of PWC. 

2/12/24 – Myra Blackwell brings outstanding leadership and organizational skills to the Durham Triple Play program. She leads the staff and coaches meetings and is superb in recognizing a situation and defusing it before it gets out of hand. Myra prepares the game and tournament schedule each year and keeps the minutes to help ensure that the organization is in compliance with nonprofit guidelines and rules. She is a good communicator and has a special gift for making everyone that comes in contact with her feel special and needed. As a serious athlete and the mother of a young athlete, Myra understands both sides of the program and has been a valued volunteer for thirteen years. 

2/5/24 – Volunteers of the NC A. Philip Randolph Institute, Inc. worked tirelessly at the food pantry known in the community as “Mary’s Pantry”. In 2021, this group worked five days a week to distribute over 140,000 pounds of food to underserved and food insecure people in Wake County. Although they faced many stressful situations such as cramped quarters, difficult clients, and newly implemented COVID-19 protocols, these volunteers never wavered. They did not hesitate when asked to take the pantry operation remote in the bitter cold to feed residents of the Raleigh Gardens community on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. They did it with smiles on their faces, cheerfully greeting all the residents who came out to partake. 

The volunteers are Alston Bailey, Wayne Bostick, Juanita Bridges, Glenda Hunter, Claudia Powell, Cleo Saulter, Alfreda Wilson, Ann Young, and Anthony Bonapart (not pictured). 

1/29/24 – Ruth Vorder-Bruegge has provided incredible and excellent crisis intervention to callers on the Orange County Rape Crisis Center’s helpline. She also organized the Center’s volunteer materials and created a Google Drive to help future volunteers find materials easily. Ruth helped better equip hospital volunteers by sharing her knowledge of hospital systems. She doesn’t hesitate to contribute to the organization and knowledge of the group, allowing their programs to improve in longevity and quality. Ruth is also forthcoming with her ideas, offering lots of thoughts, time, and insight into how to improve the helpline program. 

1/22/24 – Marva Richey worked on projects that have been game-changers for Curamericas Global. One example is an automation project that saved Curamericas many hours of manual work. She worked with the Executive Director, using an app and database that was new for both of them. As the result of their efforts, over 400 tasks that were once done manually are now completed automatically. Marva is organized, well-prepared, thoughtful, and generous with her time and expertise. Curamericas Global partners with communities abroad to save the lives of mothers and children by providing health services and education. Marva continues to go above and beyond so that more funding can be focused on its programs.

1/15/24 – The Durham and New Home Missionary Baptist Association Food Pantry (formerly called The Bradshaw, Jones, Umstead Food Pantry) volunteers are a group of extremely dedicated servants who distribute a fresh, 21-day supply of food to marginalized and low-income members in our community. Clients of all ages are served, including infants, children, and seniors. Both clients and volunteers are protected with social distancing and mask wearing protocols. Returning volunteers and clients are the evidence of superb leadership. Two-way communication is fostered through informative, supportive weekly meetings. The Bradshaw, Jones, Umstead Food Pantry volunteers perform their service with sincerity, joy, and caring. 

Volunteers: Hallie Bass, Mike Bass, Mary Dorty, James Johnson, Beatrice King, Henry King (not in photo), Jean Johnson (not in photo), and Tanjua Roberts. 

1/8/24 –Daniel Thompson is a member of the Board of Directors for the Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, Inc. He provides leadership and management of the Board of Directors in the legal and ethical policy setting and governing that establishes the mission, vision, goals, and direction of the Foundation. The Foundation provides innovative academic, leadership, and professional development programs, mentorship, and services to prepare boys and young men of color to succeed in the competitive workforce. Daniel also served as a member of the Finance Committee. In this role, he oversaw development of the annual budget, monitored organization funds; developed financial policies and procedures, and participated in various fundraising initiatives. 

1/1/24 – Root Causes hopes to address food insecurity for low-income Duke Community members living with chronic diseases by providing access to healthy food options through its Fresh Produce Program (FPP). Judy Szustakowski joined the FPP distribution day food packing team in May of 2021. She’s always on time and leads by example, packing produce with grace and taking initiative to find other tasks to support once packing has been completed. Whenever issues arise, Judy is often the first to identify and brainstorm solutions to the problem, or consult Root Causes leadership for advice. She helps newer volunteers become familiar with the assembly line process and addresses any questions they have. Judy’s leadership and support is palpable, and has enabled Root Causes to support over 380 program participants through biweekly deliveries of fresh produce and nutritional education materials. 

Judy has moved out of the area and is no longer an active volunteer serving with the Root Causes Fresh Produce Program.