Barbara Gamache

Barbara Gamache is an exemplary leader and friend of seniors who struggle with loneliness, physical illness and depression. We value her thoughtful leadership to our agency, and the scope of services that she has provided to seniors in our care for seven years. Barbara was presented with the Bronze Presidential Award in 2007.

Barbara is a regular participant at Minuteman volunteer meetings, keeping up to date with the agency and issues of aging. She is the one we ask to mentor newer volunteers, or take on difficult clients. She understands the need for isolated seniors to be respected as the capable, vital people they still are, and serves as a witness to their lives. She drives seniors to medical treatments and appointments, and offers a sympathetic ear and arm to lean on during stressful times. Barbara stops with them for a cup of tea or trip to the market, and follows clients into nursing homes and dementia units, where she brings their life stories to the attention of staff. In December, Barbara delivers most of the holiday gifts from Senior Santa for Burlington seniors. She has touched the lives of scores of seniors, staff and volunteers at Minuteman.

Hilda Fountain

Hilda Fountain says her actual life just isn’t colorful, but we imagine that anyone who has had the privilege of knowing her would disagree. If colorful means showy, then that’s not Hilda. But if a colorful life is one of joy and positive impacts made through years of dedicated and humble service, then Hilda’s life has been one bright rainbow.

Hilda loves by simple mantras. She believes that living the good life means always doing your best and being reliable, patient, and kind. She strives to get along with others, be dependable, and keep an optimistic point of view. Hilda says that one of her goals has always been to make a contribution, and to simply say that she has done so would be an understatement. Following retirement, Hilda began searching for “a reason to get out of her own yard,” and she chose to become an American Red Cross volunteer.

The American Red Cross prepares communities for emergencies and keeps people safe every day. She was assigned to the hospital, where she manned the bookmobile and the front desk. Her role changed after there was no longer a need for the book cart, she started delivering flowers in 1986.

Hilda has volunteered with the hospital for thirty-three years. Staff and volunteers who work with Hilda can count on her presence each Friday afternoon. Patients can count on Hilda to bring some sunshine and encouragement into their rooms, and they can count on her to identify the types of flowers found in their bouquets. Hilda believes herself to be a recipient of the Lord’s blessings, and for each of them she is very thankful. High Point Regional Health System, in turn, is very thankful for the blessings of this colorful volunteer who soon turns 99.

Jimmie Deeds

In 1957, Jimmie moved to Montana with his parents from Seattle. It fit well with his passionate enjoyment of the outdoors. A real sportsman, Jimmie enjoyed hunting, fishing and backpacking. He retired from Smurfit-Stone after 37 years of service. He had his own contracting business and continues carpentry projects even today. Jimmie benefits from volunteering by keeping active, productive, helping others and remaining interested in life. A secret to his successful life is his attitude. He knows that individuals have a choice in how they wish to view life. He has found that an active and positive approach to life works best for him. He has also found that giving to others makes him feel good. Jimmie is a devoted family man and a warm, friendly and outgoing person. He is dependable, honest and caring. Jimmie is a strong advocate for volunteering. He has observed that people who volunteer are more interested in life and seem to live happier, longer and more fulfilling lives.

Jimmie’s wonderful attitude is shown through his dedication and outstanding performance at the Missoula Police Department, where he works in the Abandoned Vehicle Program. Volunteers at the Police Department are required to work a minimum of 4 hours, one day per week. Jimmie works 2 days a week, anywhere from 5 hours to 10 ½ hours per shift, in all kinds of conditions and weather. He steps up to the plate and works well over the minimum required hours, putting in long hours when the workload is the heaviest. As a volunteer, he responds to citizens’ complaints, by accessing the Abandoned Vehicle Log and “signing out” subject vehicles. He then takes an unmarked police department vehicle and responds to the areas where the abandoned vehicles are located. The vehicles are then tagged and the computer is updated. After a minimum of 120 hours or 5 days, Jimmie returns to the assigned vehicles to verify if they have been moved or are still at the original location and need to be towed. Digital photos are taken and attached to the completed paperwork. After this, the vehicles are towed and the streets of Missoula are cleared of this unsightly “trash.” The officers joke that Jimmie holds the “all time record” for responding to abandoned vehicles when he signed out and responded to 27 vehicles, throughout the City, in one day. No wonder he has been able to process 284 vehicles so far this year. All his hard work in this program allows Police Department staff to work on more important duties. Jimmie also regularly trains new volunteers and will fill-in in other positions as needed.

Some of Jimmie’s other recent volunteer endeavors include: Meals on Wheels Driver, YMCA-Riverbank Run Fundraiser to help provide scholarships for children who could not otherwise afford YMCA activities, renovating the Poverello Center for the Missoula Aging Services, Loyola B.A.S.H., and his church. Jimmie is well respected for all his outstanding volunteer work. Helen Pohlman, Volunteer Services Specialist for the Missoula Aging Services RSVP program says, “Jimmie’s volunteer work is inspiring. He gives his time to fulfill his higher calling which is a real and profound purpose of serving others.” Through his unwavering dedication to the Missoula Police Department, the city is indebted to him for helping keep Missoula, the place they all love, safe and livable.

Tessa Komine

Tessa Komine is a 16 year-old Girl Scout who created Project: S.O.S., an all-girl community service program in Medfield, MA. She designed the program to respond to the needs in the Medfield community: to have more opportunities for youth to have a positive influence in their community and to encourage youth to willingly seek out community service.

In May 2007, Tessa designed a program similar to a service-learning model for Youth Service America: Preparation-Action-Reflection-Celebration. When her Girl Scout Gold Award project was approved, she then gained approval for sponsorship by United Church of Christ, as a non-denominational church initiative. She set the schedule, advertised and began her program in October 2007.

She works hard to find fun, interesting projects. For example, the team made 50 party favors and decorations during one meeting, and then hosted a Valentine’s Day dinner/dance for 50 senior citizens who struggle with loss during the holidays. The S.O.S. team has also decorated and stuffed 26 activity bags for residents of the Veteran’s Hospital to help battle boredom. To date, Project: S.O.S has touched more than 650 people through their service projects.

Tessa worked to increase public awareness of her program through United Church of Christ, Girl Scouts, and through a headline newspaper article. Almost 70 girls have attended the program, 50% attended two or more times. In June, she held a culmination event for the church congregation and S.O.S. families. During this event, she presented the church with a remembrance quilt.

Julie Zook

Julie is a dedicated part of the Chemo Pal Program at the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA).

As a Pediatric Chemo Pal Mentor, Julie assists children and teens to break through the isolation, chaos and loneliness of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. This volunteer program’s purpose is to provide a supportive relationship ensuring that each child maintains self-esteem and confidence throughout the emotionally isolating and physically difficult cancer treatment. She also provides support and guidance through dependable visits in the midst of the battle against cancer. She visits hospitals, clinics, and homes to play games, take walks, read, do art projects and share hobbies.

Julie has been matched with two different Chemo Pals over the last five years, most recently with nine-year-old Alexandria. Alexandria recently moved across the country, and yet they maintain frequent contact. Their relationship included trips to the park, the movies, the circus, each other’s house, a visit to Alexandria’s school. They spend time completing puzzles, playing games and doing crafts in the hospital.

In addition to CCA, Julie has volunteered for other mentoring programs, for her church, at a home for troubled teens and with fundraising.

Eunice McMahan

Eunice McMahan has been a volunteer at Hospice of the Heart for four years. She is always willing to listen to patients’ fears, worries and life stories. She crochets lap quilts for the patients, helps in the office on a weekly basis and helps with fundraisers and special events.

Eunice has also volunteered at Whitney Intermediate School for the last four years, teaching fourth grade students how to sew using plastic canvas. She is teaching these young students patience through hard work and diligence to completion.

She has become “Grandma” to many young children. She encourages them and praises them in all they do.

Her volunteering years have also included being a member of the Lake Whitney Hospital Women’s Auxiliary for six years. In that time she spent many hours helping patients with things they couldn’t do for themselves. She encouraged, cared for, and shared her love.

When Ms. Eunice’s husband was living, they worked as a team delivering Meals on Wheels within the community for three years to those who were homebound.

Pauline Lundgren

Every week Pauline Lundgren comes to Time-Out Family Abuse Shelter to help the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and their children. She greets families and visitors who come to the door, answers the phones and keeps the shelter clean, organized and running smoothly.

For the Birthday Calendar Fundraiser, Pauline helped by calling individuals for orders and delivering calendars. She has also spear headed the annual garage sale. Pauline recruited volunteers to help, organized the set up and breakdown and cashiered.

At Christmas time, she has put together presents so that residents may have a Merry Christmas despite the turmoil they are experiencing in their lives.

One very important fundraiser Pauline assists with is the “Back to School” picnic which Time-Out hosts every year. Clients and their children get invited to a school supply give-away and cookout. Most of the supplies are donated by individuals in the community but sometimes when there aren’t enough supplies, Pauline has bought supplies on her own to make up for this shortage.

She is on the board of Westlake Enterprises, a local workplace for developmentally or physically disabled adults to work or attend day services. She is treasurer of the Conrath Congregational Church and clerk of the Ladysmith-Conrath Church Council and is clerk for the Town of Grow.

David Lefavor

Chaplain David Lefavor has organized a group of community supporters to recognize; honor and benefit National Guard, Reserve and Active Duty Chaplains recently back from a combat deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan.

There are well over 250 Military Chaplains serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These chaplains normally remain deployed anywhere from six months to 12 months, some even for 15 months.

Chaplain Lefavor, a Retired Military Chaplain, began Project Gratitude by uniting an alliance of organizations in Florida to include: the Governor’s Office, US Senator’s Nelson and Martinez, the Mayor of Temple Terrace, the Marriott Hotels, American Legion post 152, Suncoast chapter of MOAA, Busch Gardens and Kennedy Space Center, for the common purpose of recognizing the special contributions of Military Chaplains who have completed combat tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Project Gratitude provides Military Chaplains back from combat deployments and their families with a brief three day ‘R & R’ respite in Tampa, FL. Project Gratitude is a small “thank you” to these Chaplains and their families for their service and sacrifice for God and country.

The trip includes a complimentary three day visit in Tampa with a room at the Marriott Towne Place, Busch Gardens and MOSI passes, passes to Kennedy Space Center, coupons for local restaurants and reimbursement for vehicle expenses.

There is also a tremendous secondary benefit that this program provides because it raises the awareness of the important contribution of Military Chaplains as well as involving federal, state and local officials in recognizing these chaplains individually for their service and sacrifice. Each Chaplain that Project Gratitude assists is presented with a recognition letter from the Florida governor, letters of appreciation from Senators and a Proclamation by Mayor Joe Affronti of Temple Terrace, FL at a monthly reception.

Project Gratitude is provided by a coalition of businesses and Veteran Service organizations in the Tampa Bay area and Dayton, OH.

Sharon Oberne

Sharon Oberne is the sponsor of the “After-Breakfast Buddy Reading Club” at Willoughby Elementary School. The “After-Breakfast Buddy Reading Club,” began in January 2007. Sharon volunteers her time to facilitate this popular club for first and second grade students. She wanted students to have the opportunity to have fun while reading books, skits and choral readings on a daily basis. Students can read with a small group, with a partner or by themselves. They meet for twenty minutes in the morning, after the first bell.

Reading materials are carefully placed in large envelopes and rotated among the groups. Each envelope contains two independent leveled books, the Buddy Club Book of Rimes and a choral reading or skit. Sharon, who is a published author, writes the Buddy Club Book of Rimes along with some choral readings and skits.

Students gain more than just a love for reading; they learn how to socialize with others. Since students are not ‘locked-in’ to any group, they have the option to join other groups or work with a different partner.

In April 2007, Andy Fox for My Hampton Roads, a segment produced by Wavy TV 10, interviewed Sharon. My Hampton Roads showcases individuals who make a difference in the Hampton Roads Community. Sharon was nicknamed, “The Pied Piper of Reading.”

Leadership 101

The Leadership 101 SE of Saline High School began their quest to make a difference and encourage others to follow their lead in the Fall of 2007.

The idea of “Going Green with Southeast of Saline” led to research and discussion of what could be done at school to save our natural resources. After identifying possible projects and armed with information and a Power Point presentation, Leadership 101 appeared before the USD 306 Board of Education. They stated their desire to begin a recycling program in the school. They started out collecting white paper, and then later added newspaper and color paper.

The recycling project was not the only way Leadership 101 has involved themselves and other youth in service work. At the beginning of the 2007 football season, two families with financial needs were identified. One family has a child named Chloe with a terminal illness and the other family had an unborn child with serious medical problems.

Leadership 101, along with friends of Rachel, created the “Chain of Kindness.” Links were made and sold at school functions. Pink links were sold for Chloe and blue links were for David, the infant. As the links were sold, they were joined to form a chain. At the end of the fundraiser, $3,000 was raised for Chloe and $700 for David. An additional $200 was designated for future projects.

Leadership 101 students decided to hold a food drive. The food would be donated to the local food bank. The project was held January 29 – February 14. In order to involve other area youth, the class initiated a ‘contest’ with a rival school. Culminating at a basketball game between Southeast of Saline and the rival, the food drive provided relief for many in need, collecting nearly 6,000 items.