CELEBRATES 10,106 VOLUNTEER HOURS

Irving Cares celebrated logging in 10,106 volunteer hours during our last fiscal year at a volunteer appreciation dinner held on April 15 at First United Methodist Church. Irving Cares honored its many volunteers for their dedicated work and continued commitment to the agency. Approximately 88 volunteers were present at the event, titled “Volunteers Grow Community”.

First United Methodist Church graciously allowed us to host this event in their Fellowship Hall, and Anna Wilkins and Cindy Alleman, First United Methodist Church members, provided the floral table decorations. The evening featured a fantastic salad, entrée, and an outrageously delicious chocolate dessert that was catered and served by Cynthia Alexander, Toni Alexander, DeeDee Carlisle, and Bernice Bustilles of The Culinary Improv.

Kathy Shook of Allstate Insurance led the group through an inclusion exercise to help them learn more about one another. Lots of fun was had with door prize drawings, and Irving Cares lapel pins were given out as volunteer appreciation gifts. The staff presented an agency update, as well as acknowledgement of various responsibilities of volunteers. The evening culminated with the announcement of “Volunteer of the Year.”

In keeping with our overall theme of “Volunteers Grow Community,” Ava Howard was presented the award for 2007-2008 Volunteer of the Year. Although the staff determines the recipient, the award presentation was made by Helen Rice, a longtime Irving Cares volunteer and lifetime friend of Ava Howard. Helen highlighted all of Ava’s hard work in the early 1990’s when Irving Cares manned a clothes closet. She also explained that Ava in recent years had also assumed clerical and bookkeeping responsibilities. Teddie Story remarked that “Ava is that most-treasured type of volunteer … one to call upon when the tasks aren’t so glamorous, such as paying bills and reconciling a month’s worth of transactions. She’s a most valuable asset to the management of Irving Cares.”

Ava Howard provides great support to the staff and other volunteers. Congratulations to Ava for a job well done!