Twelve Chatham County volunteers have been selected to receive recognition for their outstanding community service: Pam Barker, Chatham PTA Thrift Store, Jaime Detzi, Rene Higginbotham, Jazmin Mendoza-Sosa, Lindsay Shore-Wright, Ed & Becky Spence, Cliff Stickney, Burney Waring, Elizabeth Zeringue and Jack Zollinger. They were also selected to receive the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award certificate from the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
On April 20, 2020 the Chatham County Board of Commissioners signed a resolution honoring the volunteers for their remarkable sustained commitment of time, talent and good will for the betterment of Chatham County.
Chatham residents donated 81,179 hours of volunteer service to United Way and its member agencies last year. According to the Independent Sector, the most current hourly value of volunteer time is $25.43 per hour. This means that local volunteers donated work hours valued at more than 2.6 million dollars. “This community activism allows Chatham human service nonprofits to provide a level of service they could not otherwise afford,” commented United Way Board Chair Jim Sink.
“Volunteerism is an important part of the proud history of community service in Chatham County,” said United Way Volunteer Center Coordinator Alane Coore. “It is our honor to recognize our neighbors who truly make a difference in the lives of others.”
Since 1998, United Way has coordinated the Chatham County Outstanding Volunteer Awards to recognize individuals who selflessly give their time, talent and expertise to benefit the residents of our community. Chatham County community members make up the local Volunteer Nomination Review Committee that reviews the nomination forms, selects the honorees and plans local recognition activities. The committee also selects Chatham County’s nominees to be considered for recognition on the state level. The United Way of Chatham County Volunteer Center coordinates this effort with the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
For more information about volunteering in Chatham County, please contact Alane Coore, United Way Volunteer Center Coordinator at 542-1110 or visit the United Way of Chatham County website at www.unitedwayofchathamcounty.org.