LAWRENCE MOYE IV
Lawrence "Larry" Moye IV has been a program volunteer for Lucy Hart Hill Family Literacy Program in Greene County for more than five years. Larry has given unselfishly of himself to many worthwhile community endeavors but seems to focus on projects that help the underprivileged or those that deal with social problems.
The Lucy Hart Hill Family Literacy Center operates a multicultural educational program for parents and their young children. The student population is compiled of Hispanic students, African-American students and Caucasian students, so it is very important to blend all three cultures together so all will be a part of the team and focus on reaching their goals rather than dwelling on their differences. Larry speaks Spanish and has been very involved with Family Literacy in teaching the parents and working with the preschoolers.
Larry has never received a salary or stipend for any portion of his volunteer work at Family Literacy. He does, however, have creative ideas and creates a fun-filled environment for those with whom he interacts. He has literally moved furniture for single parents, done landscaping work at the Family Literacy campus, planned puppet shows on drug and alcohol prevention for children, written grants for the program to purchase literacy bags and parenting resources, and help teach Spanish parents to speak and read in English. He has provided Christmas wish list services to families in need for the past five years and volunteered as teacher assistant in the summer program for the preschool class. His love and enthusiasm for people is what truly makes his service outstanding. It is evident that he cares deeply about his fellow man.
In addition to his own volunteer time, Larry has recruited more than a dozen of his fellow high school classmates to come to the Family Literacy center and get involved. This provides human resources for the center and also spreads the understanding of literacy programs in the community. Many of these students have volunteered more after being introduced to Family Literacy through Larry. He has also given several presentations about Family Literacy to civic and church groups in the community.
Larry has received awards from numerous programs such as: North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, The President’s Student Service Award, Governor’s School Participant, and Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year from the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has been on mission trips to southwest Georgia with Habitat for Humanity and also spent a school break in Guatemala working in hospitals and in a school for children who live in the Guatemala City dump.
In his young life Larry has exhibited the sentiment from Winston Churchill about life – that one makes a living by what he gets and one makes a life by what he gives. Larry Moye has already given a lot to his community and no doubt his dedication to volunteer service will follow him throughout life. Larry’s stewardship, mentoring and proactive response to challenges at Family Literacy demonstrate his sincere desire to make educational opportunities the best for others that they can be.
The Director of Family Literacy has witnessed firsthand what Larry has done to make life better for others. Larry plans to complete high school his senior year with more than 500 hours of service to various organizations and then “start again” in college.
DISASTER ACTION TEAM OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
As the sun set on April 30, 2003, severe storms raced across Maryland. At last light, the strongest tornado ever recorded in the region cut a mile wide path of destruction across two counties. The twister went straight down Main Street in La Plata, Md., blasting businesses, churches and homes into splinters and casting the entire area into its darkest night. One of the buildings totally destroyed was the office of the American Red Cross. Throughout the night, Red Cross volunteers from across the state mobilized and began moving to help the stricken community. Among them were many members of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT).
As they arrived they immediately began sheltering victims, preparing breakfast for thousands, conducting a damage assessment and establishing a command post near the site of the destroyed Red Cross Chapter House. As the sun illuminated what many described as a battlefield, it also shown brightly on red crosses on vehicles and dozens of jackets moving among the debris bringing hope and comfort to a town that was no more. The rays also brightened a tattered red and white banner reattached anonymously to a twisted chapter flagpole symbolizing all would be well in the light of the new day.
The incident described, fortunately, does not happen often. However, what the Disaster Action Team members accomplished is a regular occurrence. Each day, Disaster Action Team volunteers from the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross respond to 2-3 home fires. In fiscal year 2002, they responded to more than 800 local incidents serving more than 7,000 people with in excess of $1 million in direct services. Additionally, during that fateful year they were among the first humanitarian aide workers to reach the Pentagon, Shanksville, PA and the World Trade Center. Also that year, members deployed to floods in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Texas; hurricanes in Louisiana, Mississippi and Guam; tornadoes in Texas, Mississippi and Alabama; as well as western state wild fires. In all, they served more than 5,462 days attending to major disasters.
This level of response is what has been since Clara Barton loaded relief wagons bound for the Johnstown Flood, and is now and will continue to be as long as volunteers such as the Disaster Action Team of the American Red Cross, Central Maryland Chapter, rise like the sun to extinguish the darkness of despair surrounding disasters.
JAY HUDSON
Jay Hudson is an avid bird watcher and photographer and has a great appreciation for the outdoors. He is the volunteer newsletter writer of a nationally recognized column on the relationship between bird behavior and human behavior. He is editor, writer and photographer for the Great Bear River Bird Refuge Newsletter and was the creator of the Riverkeeper Program for Weber County. He has also written articles and provided photos for Sunset Magazine, Standard Examiner, Weber County Library, Junction Magazine, Trust for Public Lands, Weber State University, Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Outdoors Magazine, U.S. Forest Service, Marriott Slaterville City, Riverdale City, Ogden Camera Club, Weber Pathways, Audubon Society and Trust for Public Lands.
Hudson’s additional service projects are in the educational realm. Hudson volunteers as a children’s storyteller in the elementary schools, serves as a guest lecturer at Weber State University and is a volunteer writer of short stories for the library newsletter.
In addition, Hudson has spent in excess of 15 years successfully negotiating with approximately 35 entities. He has contacted them for purchases, gifts or simple agreements for the development of the trails in Weber County, including the Indian Trail/Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the Ogden and Weber Rivers portions of the Centennial Trial, Coldwater Canyon Trail head and the 22nd Street Trail head. Because of his efforts, cash, equipment and operations, architectural drawings, construction of shelters and fences were donated. Also bridges, signs, trees, retaining walls, pavement, lighting and maps were given to the projects because of Hudson’s persistence.
Hudson created the web page of the Ogden Trails Network on the city’s web site and the Weber State University web site. He wrote the narratives, provided the photos and coordinated the design. Hudson found the funding for the publication of three different maps of the Ogden Trails Network, also. He has presented the Trails network to churches, civic clubs, Weber County cities, schools and universities, County Commissioners and many others. It is estimated that Hudson brought together 3,500 volunteers and funding in excess of half a million dollars.
The office of Mayor Matthew R. Godfrey said that Hudson has been the single most influential source of the city’s beautiful trail system. The Mayor believes Hudson’s efforts can be attributed to his leadership, perseverance and ability to find and mobilize resources. He has a support network and his highly regarded in the community. This enables him to obtain funding, coordinate large groups of other volunteers and solicit donations for projects. Hudson has a positive effect on and an excellent working relationship with the City of Ogden and other cities throughout Weber County, other government agencies, the business community and the volunteers that share his vision.
VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM
The Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) consists of a group of full time students at Weber State University who donate their time and skills to service through various committees and groups. The VIP Program consists of Bridging the Gap, Cares, Alternative Spring Break, Christmas Tree Express, Done In A Day, Environmental Projects, Homeless Projects, Jump Start, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Special Olympics Team, YCC, Best Buddies, Davis Campus, Habitat for Humanity, and Kiwanis International.
This year, Bridging the Gap, a group of students that work with the elderly, are planning and implementing the Senior Health and Information Fair to be held at the Golden Hour Center. This fair will offer information on senior health and be marketed by the students to Davis and Weber Counties. The students at Weber plan on having this become an annual event. They have also spent time with retirement homes providing activities and companionship.
Cares, a program where students mentor elementary age children, has planned events for every month of the year. Students work with three elementary schools in Weber County School District. Some of their programs include a trip to the pumpkin patch, bowling and dinner at Weber State University, and an up-coming Easter Egg Hunt. The one-to-one relationships built with the students are the best reward of this program. College students are able to impact the lives of young children in a positive way.
The Christmas Tree Express committee donated a tree to be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Ogden School District Foundation. In addition, they distributed trees to 18 organizations across the campus. These trees were decorated and displayed in the bridge and then donated to needy families across the Wasatch Front. This year, the Homeless Committee members tied quilts, which they donated to the Ogden Rescue Mission for the men. This committee also became the waiters for the Gouffilet Gala. The Jump Start students work with the after school program at the Marshall White Center. They also plan an activity every month.
The YIP Martin Luther King committee planned with members of the community and different agencies for months to prepare for the Munch and March event. After breakfast at the Marshall White Center, the students and others marched up Martin Luther King Street to the 25th Street Pavilion, where they presented a program. It is a significant challenge to plan an event that involves the city, community agencies, media, and the police department and have the event become both meaningful and fun.
The committee for the Special Olympics Team spends many hours in practice with their teams. They transport them to many area games throughout the state for competition. The students spent a weekend with the team in Beaver competing in volleyball.
The YCC committee assisted with the fundraiser, Real Men Can Cook, held at the Ogden Union Station. Members of the football and basketball teams served as bus boys, while others helped with beverages and cleanup. This committee also works with children at the YCC. Their Halloween party includes neighborhood children where students helped with games, pumpkin decorating, face painting and prizes.
The goal of the Best Buddies program is “to enhance the lives of people with Mental Retardation by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment.” In November they held a dance to celebrate the 8,000 books that had been collected in October. They donated these books to the homeless shelters in the Ogden area. These committee members spend time with their buddy twice a month.
This year the Alternative Spring Break students went out to Antelope Island State Park and participated in a service project. With the help of park rangers, they collected rocks to line the parking lots. Last year this committee went to Portland, Oregon to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Several students were so impressed with this program that they attended the Habitat for Humanity convention in Indianapolis. They have since reinstated a chapter at Weber State University. They have formed a committee comprised of students, faculty, and advisors and met with the Habitat for Humanity in Brigham City. Currently, students are involved with helping to construct eight homes.
The Davis Campus group is heavily involved in Share the Harvest and the Done In A Day group not only runs the blood drives at Weber but also helped plant trees in the Ogden area to help serve and beautify the community. The Environmental group is involved in both recycling and the Earth Day Mall along with working on adopting a trail.
Along with their committee duties, the YIP Program decided to be involved in the statewide food drive competition with other universities. They collected about 1,700 pounds of food that they donated to Catholic Community Service to distribute to local areas. They are also planning to volunteer at R.C. Willeys on the 16th of this month in order to donate that money to the Angel House.
BEST BUDDIES, SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE
Best Buddies, Saint Joseph College (SJC) Chapter is an active club with slightly more than 20 members. The mission of Best Buddies, SJC is to provide an opportunity for college students to be matched in a one-to-one friendship with individuals who have intellectual disabilities. By becoming a college buddy, students befriend someone with a developmental disability, but also learn about themselves in the process. In addition, the SJC chapter helps to educate the college and larger community about individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The Fall 2001/Spring 2002 semester was a transition period for the SJC chapter of Best Buddies but in the Fall of 2002 each member completed more than 30 hours of community service. In October 2002, members of Best Buddies helped to organize a large Halloween Party for students at the Gengras Center, a unique special education program for elementary, middle and high school students from around the state with intellectual, developmental, learning disabilities, and related behavioral challenges. Volunteers organized the entire event from start to finish, including decorations, games, music and food.
In November, Best Buddies members volunteered and used the SJC campus as a donation site for the United Way’s Button-up Connecticut coat drive, collecting more than 70 coats. In addition, Best Buddies volunteered and sponsored a “Book Blowout” which collected more than 840 books to support a number of literacy foundations in Hartford, including the Catholic Worker House, Mercy Housing and Shelter, HARC and Trust House. While planning these volunteer projects, the members still meet weekly with their buddies and hosted monthly group outings, such as pumpkin painting and bowling. In the spring semester, Best Buddies plans to sponsor Project Wheelchair to raise awareness about accessibility. The group has also arranged to host the Best Buddies Connecticut Annual Fair, on the SJC campus.
The SJC Chapter of Best Buddies continues to carry out their organizational mission, going a step beyond by taking the time to educate others about individuals with intellectual disabilities and volunteering within the community.
CARING FOR HAVASUVIANS IN NEED UNITED PROJECT (CHIN-UP)
Interagency is one of few places community members of Havasu City, Ariz. have to turn to when they have hard times, lose a job, are unable to pay the rent or electric, have a debilitating illness, or need a safe place to stay in the middle of the night when running from domestic violence. Interagency searches to see if they would qualify for any federal, state or county funding. However, there are many who do not qualify to receive these services and they were falling through the cracks. The Caring for Havasuvians In Need United Project (CHIN-UP) was organized to meet the need and rescue these individuals during their emergency and give them a hand up before their life became even worse.
CHIN-UP is innovative and looks for creative ways to meet community needs. Manufacturers’ coupons are used to fund the program. By starting a “grass roots” operation, including churches, service organizations, schools, senior centers, the homebound and other individuals, a coupon campaign was started to raise funds for the needy. The organization cuts, sorts, stamps and hangs manufacturers’ coupons on the corresponding product in the four recruited supermarkets. When the consumer purchases the product with a coupon on it, the “cents-off” goes to C.H.I.N.-L.P. to aid those in need. There are no paid volunteers and all the money stays in Havasu.
When a person goes to Interagency for help, they are carefully screened. It they do not qualify for any other program, CHIN-UP steps in to help them. Money is never given directly to individual, but instead goes to the electric company, landlord, or another creditor after carefully checking the situation. This help is given on a one-time-only basis so that people do not become dependent on the program and are able to remain self-sufficient.
Through the last 10 years, CHIN-UP has raised in excess of $380,000 and helped more than 5,500 needy individuals, which is a measure of their success. Through this achievement many others are attracted to volunteer their time and energy to CHIN-UP. The group has created a Procedure Manual that is regularly requested by those who are amazed at the program and want to replicate it in their hometown or another state.
Churches regularly add this activity to the Ladies group programs to set aside a month or two, or a whole year donated to working with CHIN-UP. Many churches and organizations have a drop-box in their buildings for people to drop off their coupons each week. A private school volunteered to help, as did the Honor students at Lake Havasu High School. CHIN-UP volunteers served cookies and punch to customers at Food City, Bashas and Smith’s supermarket on a Saturday to say thank you to the customers for shopping there and buying the products which have the manufacturers coupons stamped with the CHIN-UP logo. Mayor Melanie Grinstead-Hanak signed a proclamation naming May 7, 2002 as CHIN-UP Day in honor of the volunteer organization’s 10-year anniversary.
JEROME COLWELL
Jerome Colwell is a caring, compassionate young man who is eager to take on problems in his community, even those that exist outside his job description. He never talks about all the little things he does to make peoples’ lives better, but he can often be found performing a random act of kindness for someone in need. He is a quiet hero.
Jerome has been a Youth Counselor with the Covenant House since March 1994 and a Volunteer for the American Red Cross since 1992. The following organizations have all reaped the benefits of his service over the years as well: Project Read, Harmony House, the Boys Scouts of East Orange, the Big Brother Program and Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey. He participated as a Volunteer Leader in the Make a Difference Day Program, NJ, Nickelodeon’s Big Help, Project Santa, Stand for Children, World Hunger, MS, Cancer and many others.
Jerome has received letters of commendation from Former President Bill Clinton, Senators Frank Lautenberg and Jon S. Corzine. His office wall is adorned with certificates of appreciation from Governor McGreevey, Congressman Menendez, Bayonne Mayor Joe Doria and Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham. He is the recipient of a Resolution saluting his service from the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly. Clients have written to him thanking him for making their life better with their children.
The length and depth of Jerome’s service to his community is precious but yet so rare. Jerome is a person who has made life better for many citizens with his concern for the well-being of others. He brings together diverse groups to solve some of the community problems for the seniors, youth and infants. He makes sure others get involved in making the community and the world safe and better for all citizens.
BETH ANN NAVIDOMOSKIS
For more than eight years, Beth Ann Navidomoskis has volunteered her service with the American Red Cross in Germany, Korea, Okinawa and Utah. Since 1983, she has donated more than 7,500 hours of service to the mission of the American Red Cross.
Navidomoskis discovered the agency when she was overseas. She sought them out and worked with them in any capacity she was needed. Her efforts and attitude did not change when she came to donate her time in Utah.
She averages about 88 hours per month with the American Red Cross of Northern Utah. She is dependable, which is something that is required of the volunteers with the agency. It is important that when you have someone scheduled to work that they will be there on time and ready to serve. Navidomoskis comes to the office on short notice to assist with the phones and other administrative tasks. She takes the initiative to assist in any area needing support and successfully completes all assigned tasks. The agency is confident that callers are treated with respect and their inquiry is dealt with immediately when Navidomoskis is on the line.
Because of her time spent with the agency, customers and clients do not have to wait long to have questions answered and receive services they request. Her knowledge of the American Red Cross ensures that everyone with whom she comes into contact knows what services the Chapter provides. She advises clients where to donate blood, how they can be certified in life saving skills, when they can receive assistance with past due utility bills, how family members can get in contact with loved ones in the military and what the Chapter does when disaster strikes.
Navidomoskis mans the Clearfield American Red Cross office each week by herself. After the events of September 11, 2001, she was able to continue providing services in Clearfield for the Davis County residents. Without her, the office would have remained closed because staff members were not able to provide any coverage for several weeks. Navidomoskis also helped at fundraising drives that assisted those affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
Though Navidomoskis has been challenged physically, emotionally and mentally due to an accident, she continues to serve. She admits that her volunteer work with the Red Cross helped her regain mental agility, has given her a continued purpose to improve physically and helps to heal some emotional wounds.
COMBINED VETERANS HONOR GUARD
The Combined Veterans Honor Guard is a group of veterans (all Senior citizens) who provide military honors at veteran’s funerals throughout the Northern Part of Utah. It is his or her contention that every veteran who has honorably served his/her country should have a dignified and meaningful farewell. To this end, they provide their services on a volunteer basis. Every member of the group is over 70 years of age. They are all absolutely dedicated to making their services available to families or survivors of veterans.
At the present time, World War II veterans are dying off at a rate of 1,000 to 2,000 per day nationally. As the population ages, this number will increase drastically. Many of those served are from Utah. Last year the Combined Military Honor Guard presided at over 200 funerals in Northern Utah They average more than 5 funerals per week (20 to 25 per month). They often serve at two or even three funerals in a single day. They are constantly busy and their services are in great demand.
The group has a core of four to seven members with eleven total on call. The real dedication of these volunteers is shown by the fact that this group receives no formal funding. They are required to look sharp and professional at every service. They provide their own uniforms and the upkeep and replacement of them (dry cleaning alone is a large bill). They also provide their own transportation, gasoline or fare; provide their own music, ammunition and rifles as well as their own sound system and electronics. They require constant practice and must keep up to date on military etiquette, customs, etc.
They are called upon to perform in all kinds of weather from hot, humid days to bitterly cold snow and rain. They are always vigilant. They have conducted services from Downey, Idaho to Bountiful, Utah. The volunteer services they provide are given out of their patriotism, dedication to country and respect for those they honor. This is done despite the fact that the group as a whole is all suffering the frailties of age and physical problems. They all place their service to others above their own disabilities and problems.
Their services are totally non-discriminatory. Military honors are provided to veterans of every racial and ethnic background, all branches of the service, every religion. The group works closely with local undertakers and clergy. Every American should be proud of groups such as this.
UPDATE March 21, 2022: Combined Veterans Honor Guard is no longer in service.
THE RICHARD GILMAN GROUP
In November 2002, the Philosophy 110 Ethics class at Northwestern was challenged by their professor to develop a service project that would benefit the community. Four students read an article in the paper about the suspicious death in Zimbabwe of a local man, Richard Gilman. For the last few years, Richard Gilman, together with his brother Howard Gilman, provided aid to poor children in Africa. Zimbabwe is a country plagued by the consequences of the HIV virus. One in four people has HIV or AIDS and the average life expectancy is 36.5 years with 1200 people dying each week from complications of the disease. To complicate matters further, severe drought in Zimbabwe caused mass starvation. Richard and his brother Howard, who lives in Africa, committed to providing funds and supplies to ensure that poor children in the village of Vambumu would have an education and one nutritious meal a day. Together they had set up a ‘maa-hey-woo’ feeding program for 850 children. On his third trip in this effort, Richard Gilman was suspiciously shot and killed.
Members of the Ethics class group were moved by Mr. Gilman’s story and decided that continuing this effort would make a positive impact on their community as well as pay tribute to a true humanitarian. The class group took on the ‘Richard Gilman Group’ as their project. The Northwestern class group decided to approach the Torrington Middle School students for their help because Mr. Gilman had taught here. However, Mr. Gilman had retired several years earlier and the current students did not know him. After several contacts were made with Mr. Gilman’s widow, Mary Gilman, and the administration at the Torrington school, the Northwestern students met with the middle school Student Council and were overwhelmed by the response.
Though the middle school students did not know Mr. Gilman, they sympathized with the students in Zimbabwe whom he was trying to help. This quickly turned into a students-helping-students project. Posters, and flyers were posted in the school. The media covered the story and collection boxes were set up. The Northwestern students planned to return at the end of the week to collect the first donations. They were called in just three days because the boxes were overflowing. Hundreds of pounds of books, pencils, supplies and clothing were collected. A local business donated a computer. (One long-term hope is to have instant pen pals between the two schools.) The donations have been packed and are now stored, as are the 25 boxes of books and supplies stored at Mary Gilman’s home before her husband’s death.
The Ethics class has ended. The Richard Gilman Group continues with another challenge. Two of the Northwestern students have continued their commitment, Charles Moore and Bonnie Birden. The next challenge is raising the funds and arranging shipment so the goods will arrive at their destination and be properly distributed. Shipping fees and insurance will cost thousands of dollars. The group has investigated several agencies and options that may help with affordable shipping. An account with a non-profit status needs to be established for the group before any full-scale fundraising efforts begin. In the meantime, local organizations including the Torrington Rotary and the Eagles Club have been contacted and have indicated that they would help.
The death of Richard Gilman was a tragedy for his family and friends as well as for the children in Vambumu. Only a true community effort could attempt to continue his work. What began with four students, a class assignment and a newspaper grew to include family, students and staff at a local school, local businesses and organizations. When completed, the impact of this project started by Richard Gilman, will not only have significantly benefited his community here in Connecticut and the community in Vambumu, but will have joined these two communities through the children.
