Organizations hold 20th annual volunteer luncheon

The United Way of Southeast Missouri and Volunteer Intergenerational Center sponsored their 20th annual volunteer recognition luncheon at the Drury Lodge to honor outstanding volunteers in the community. Youth, adult, senior adult and group were the four categories recognized.

A panel of five local judges chose one recipient per category from the 23 nominations in the four categories.

Sarah Nicole Ressel received this year's youth/young adult award for work with Heartland Down Syndrome Association. She organized, contacted and scheduled public speakers while creating information folders with professional resources readily available to new parents of Down syndrome babies. Ressel had the group listed with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis to share resources and provide more services for those in need.

Donna Schoonover, center, was pictured with co-workers Jeanette Klobe, left, and Brandie Koenig, right, of Perry County Community Task Force. Schoonover received the outstanding adult award for her work with youth.

Donna Schoonover was the recipient of the adult volunteer award for work with the Perry County Task Force. She serves as a teen's mentor and role model while sharing her ideas and problems to assure successful communication with teens in the community.

Charles L. Wilson was the senior adult award recipient for dedication at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Since the center's doors opened, he has been absorbed in leading people to practice conservation and get outdoors. His dedication is evidenced by the hours he serves monthly, his recruitment of new volunteers and completion of any task at hand.

Alpha Xi Delta members Emily Giltner, left, and Amy Querry, accepted the outstanding group award for their organization at the 20th annual United Way/VIC awards luncheon.

Alpha Xi Delta received the group award for recognition of dedication to the Humane Society, including community service hours, donations of pet food and supplies, facilitating pet adoptions and assistance with local banquets.

Other nominees included youth volunteers Lateria Flye, Laura Pigg, Matt Ramshaw; adult volunteers Joyce Bruenderman, Tania Burnette, Robin Gruber, Dave Hardesty, Jane Hirsch, Ella King, Dawn Razer, Mary Wulfers; senior adult volunteers Carolyn Ford Bock, Dorothy Dees, Morton Estes, Charlotte Hechte, Phyllis Lee; group volunteers Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Junior American Red Cross, KAGE Family and Community Education Club.

Target was the recipient of the "Inspire by Example" recognition award created to recognize a local business that encourages employee volunteerism.

The United Way of Southeast Missouri serves as the leader in uniting people and resources around health and human service issues to build a stronger and healthier community. Volunteer Intergenerational Center recruits volunteers of all ages in order to connect them to resources so that they may work together to create positive change for the community.

For more information, contact the United Way of Southeast Missouri by phone at 334-9634 or on the Internet at www.unitedwayofsemo.org.

For more information about volunteering, contact the VIC at 335-7555 or on the Web at www.vicrsvp.org.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133