Lorain teen is Catholic Charities’ Volunteer of the Year

LaCoya Head, 19, of Lorain has volunteered at churches in the county since she was 6 years old.

Head’s dedication and need to give was recognized by the Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, which awarded her Volunteer of the Year in April.

Additionally, Head was a Catholic Charities USA 2018 Volunteer of the Year finalist.

She is the daughter of Earl and Lynn Head.

Head, along with four other volunteers in the greater Cleveland area, will receive the Most Treasured Volunteer Award during a luncheon Oct. 26 of The Center of Community Solutions’ Celebration of Human Services at the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, 1100 Carnegie Ave. in Cleveland.

Head also was honored alongside other nominated Catholic Charities volunteers during a volunteer appreciation dinner Oct. 12 at the St. Elizabeth Center, 2726 Caroline Ave. in Lorain.

She was nominated for Volunteer of the Year by Catholic

Charities member Denise Atwood, who said in a statement that Head has “a positive attitude and it shows in her work.”

Head said her volunteer work has taught her to “appreciate and be humble.”

A majority of Head’s volunteer work first took place at Lorain’s Wesley United Methodist Church, 220 W. Seventh St. in Lorain, where she is a member and helps to provide food baskets, hot meals, clothing and hygiene products for the less fortunate.

A Lorain High School graduate, Head has volunteered at nursing homes and youth programs with the school’s Key Club.

She has served Catholic Charities for six years.

“It’s an opportunity to give back to those who don’t have as much as I do,” Head said.

From decorating church staff’s doors with scripture, to serving meals, Head said she does a little bit of everything at the St. Elizabeth Center.

Head volunteers a few days a week, as well as holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

“I do anything from paperwork in the office to distributing toiletries,” she said.

“I stock the food pantry and serve meals, too.”

Head currently is a fulltime student at Lorain County Community College studying early childhood special education.

Head