2019 Volunteers of the Year at CARITAS
Every year, volunteers from the Richmond community serve 12,000+ hours to support our mission. For every hour they contribute, we can turn it into $3.60 of service to our residents and the community at large. That means we can reach more people with more compassion–approximately 4,000 of our neighbors a year.
“We gather at this time of year to not only share in holiday cheer, but also to acknowledge one of the many hard working volunteers who has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” said Director of Community Engagement Tiffany Terry as she presented not one, but several Wally Stettinius Awards this year. With the help of Furniture Bank Program Manager Sandy Morris and CARITAS Works Program Manager Marilyn Milio, she presented an award to one group and another to an individual.
The first group who earned “Volunteers of Year” from CARITAS was our Furniture Bank shopping team: Krista Boucher, Louise Cole, Patricia Shaw-Brooks, Dee Tostenson, Maureen Fagan and Debbie Moore. They help clients get the essential household items they need to begin lives full of hope in their new apartments and homes.
“Shopping for furniture when coming out of crisis or when dealing with layers of trauma can be overwhelming,” Tiffany said. “They do so much more than shop. They are a community of warm ‘hellos’ and smiles for the shoppers coming through the CARITAS Furniture Bank.”
Tiffany added that the group of women have helped in other capacities, including helping with the 43rdStreet Festival of the Arts, volunteering at The Healing Place, during our warehouse furniture sales, and more. Collectively, these five women have served more than 2,500 hours!
The second volunteer honored was Becky DeCamps. Since 2017, Becky has served 480 hours in our workforce development program CARITAS Works including helping develop the new Works curriculum.
“She has written resumes and interviewed at least 100 men,” Tiffany said. “She has held us in her heart during times of complete sorrow and rejoiced with all of us over accomplishments and job announcements. She supports CARITAS events, and we are always so happy to see her smiling face. ”
We are so grateful and moved by the generosity of both our staff and volunteers who always help us make a greater impact in the Richmond community. Thank you for your service!