Lions Club gives, listens
HIGHFILL — A number of local residents who volunteer at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter were honored at the Volunteer & Community Partners Appreciation Dinner held on March 31 at the Double Tree Hotel in Bentonville.
“Together, our 251 active volunteers, along with hundreds more people in dozens of community partner groups, contributed about 8,400 volunteer hours in 2015,” wrote Scott Hutcheson, director of marketing at the NWA Children’s Shelter. “That means that we are averaging nearly 700 volunteer hours per month. A conservative estimate of the market value of 8,400 volunteer hours would come to about $210,000.
“We rely heavily on our volunteers here at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, without them we wouldn’t be able to make such a positive impact in the lives of all the children we serve,” Hutcheson wrote.
Among area residents honored were: Glenn Smith, of Gentry, honored with 2015 Bronze Presidential Service Award, who has been a volunteer on the girl’s wing since September of 2014 and currently has volunteered 247 hours; Lora Unruh, of Gentry, honored with 2015 Bronze Presidential Service Award, a volunteer on the preschool wing since October of 2012 and currently has volunteered 158 hours; Samantha Doss, a new volunteer; Judy Mullen, new volunteer; Kent and Marcia Gaddy, of Gravette, who have volunteered in various capacities including childcare and fundraising since January of 2005 and currently have volunteered 246 hours combined; Phyllis Sydoriak, a new volunteer; and Diana Chen, of Highfill, a new volunteer and the team leader of the shelter’s garden.