Volunteer recognition awards presented

More than 25 volunteers whose efforts have made a positive difference in the lives of others were honored at the 15th annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Luncheon held Thursday at the Drury Lodge.

The Area Wide United Way and SBC Southwestern Bell hosted the luncheon, where awards were presented in four categories -- Youth, Adult, Senior Adult and Group.

Award recipients were selected from a field of 27 candidates.

Chosen as outstanding Area Wide United Way volunteers were:

Clara Delaney, youth award, under 25.

LaTanya Thomas, adult award, 26-59 years of age

Marge Engleman, the senior award, 60 and over.

Brian and JoAnn Barrett, group/organization award.

Delaney has volunteered with Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship (MVTH) since it was started in February of 2001. She has never missed a session, whether it was on a weeknight or Saturday.

"Clara serves as a side walker for our riders who have disabilities," said Jana Rodgers of MVTH. "She makes sure the riders are safe in the saddle."

Delaney, a student at Cape Central High School, offers suggestions and is quick to help with training new volunteers, Rodgers added.

Thomas has volunteered as a youth specialist for the Civic Center Boys and Girls Club since 1998. In her role as a girls basketball coach, she donates approximately 18 hours a week to practice and mentoring girls grades three through 12.

Coaching is not Thomas' only volunteer project. She is an active member of House of Prayer Church, and often volunteers at local Habitat for Humanity projects. She also leads a fitness class for teen-agers and adult women that meets three times a week at the Boys and Girls Club.

She has mentored more than 170 girls during her tenure as a Boys and Girls Club volunteer. She will be implementing a national program, "Go Girls Go" at the center.

Thomas is a single mother to her 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old niece. She works full time as a Division of Youth Services youth specialist, and is pursuing a second bachelor's degree in physical education at Southeast Missouri State University.

Engleman has been involved with the American Red Cross 10 years, serving numerous hours as a volunteer.

She worked 30-plus hours a week assisting with the organization and distribution of T-shirts and magnets, following Sept. 11. The shirts and magnets were sold through the local Red Cross Chapter.

When the Red Cross needed volunteers over Easter weekend for Madison County flooding, Engleman came through on the holiday weekend.

A teacher for 24 years before retiring, Engleman has assisted on a number of Red Cross disaster operations.

In addition to Red Cross volunteer activities, she is active in other community and church affairs. She volunteers with the Missouri Veterans Home and Cape County Public Health Department and in her spare time she helps help train volunteers for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Barretts divide their times and talents between the Girls Scouts of Otahki Council, Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, Notre Dame High School and St. Vincent de Paul School.

They have served as committee members of Troop 25 for 11 years and served as wranglers for the Girl Scouts' horseback riding program six years, accumulating hundreds of hours of service. The also help with Notre Dame Bingo and St. Vincent school dinner auction.

"The people we honored today are highly motivated, unselfish workers," said Kathy Denton, assistant director of the Area Wide United Way. "Our volunteer awards program is an opportunity to recognize the numerous volunteers that have impacted our communities the past year. Volunteers are so vital to our community and it is important that they are recognized."