UNITED WAY RECOGNIZES 18 VOLUNTEERS, 3 SUPPORT GROUPS

Outstanding volunteerism was the focus of an award luncheon Tuesday co-sponsored by the Area Wide United Way and Ameritech.

Eighteen volunteers and three support organizations were recognized for their service to the community throughout the year during the Volunteer Recognition program. Volunteers were nominated by people for their efforts, and several individuals received medals for outstanding service.

"The thing about volunteerism and about recognizing volunteers is they're the last people in the world that want any recognition for what they do," said Nancy Jernigan, United Way executive director. "The number of nominations in each age group points out that all ages in this community are involved in enhancing the quality of everyone's lives that they touch."

Three volunteers and one organization were recognized for outstanding volunteerism. Nominees were divided into three age groups: outstanding youth-young adult, under the age of 25; outstanding adult, ages 26 to 59; outstanding senior adult, over the age of 59; and outstanding group or organization.

Denny Stortz, a freshman at Jackson Junior High School, was selected the outstanding youth-young adult volunteer for his work at St. Francis Medical Center. Stortz has volunteered 387 hours since 1996 as a pharmacy courier, weekend newspaper delivery person and transporter in outpatient admitting.

Carla Williams was selected the outstanding adult volunteer for her work as a hospice volunteer. Williams has worked with 11 terminally ill patients and their families during the last four years, doing everything from light housekeeping to listening to the patients discuss their fears.

Gilbert Leimer and Anita Meinz were co-winners in the outstanding senior adult volunteer category. Leimer volunteers over 500 hours per year at the Jackson Senior Center, where he is treasurer and works as a receptionist, dishwasher, maintenance person and food pantry volunteer. He also works over 100 hours per year as a volunteer for American Red Cross blood drives.

Meinz works 20 hours each week as a Paddle Wheeler for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. She also reads to first-graders at Franklin Elementary School and is an active member of the Beta Gamma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

The American Legion Auxiliary was recognized as the outstanding volunteer organization. The group volunteered nearly 3,000 hours of service through the work of 20 members last year. The group provided many of its services to the Missouri Veterans Home, where it sponsored outings and birthday parties and helped address Christmas cards and wrap presents. Members also sponsored a blood drive and a Girl Scout troop and provided support for the Senior Center and the Cape Girardeau Central High School Renaissance program.

"These people are all representatives of what happens in this area all year long," said Donna Hanschen, Ameritech representative and president of the United Way board of directors. "They have all been outstanding in giving their time and other talents."

Jernigan said they also represented the many unsung volunteers that serve others locally.

"The old adage says that for every one or two you recognize, there are 100 that you don't know about," she said. "In Southeast Missouri it's particularly strong. It's more of a culture throughout this area."