Volunteer Page 2

Each April, during National Volunteer Month, Hattie Larlham honors several of our outstanding volunteers. This year, awards were presented at our annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on April 19.

2006 Individual Award for Service:
Claudia Conant

Walter and Claudia

Claudia is a former residential assistant for our community homes who returned to volunteer because she genuinely missed interacting with the individuals we serve. She likes the simplicity of making her guys their favorite dishes or the excitement of taking an individual on a special trip. In December Claudia took an individual on a bus trip to see the holiday lights at Oglebay, where they stopped along the way for buffet meals. Many of our residents would never have experiences such as that if it weren’t for volunteers like Claudia. She looks for any way to spend time with her friends at Hattie Larlham, and that is just one reason we’re proud to bestow this award upon Claudia Conant.

2006 Individual Award for Service:
Tom Dye

Sergeant Tom Dye and his canine companion Murphy, a friendly and lovable Bichon Frise, have been bringing joy to the individuals at HLCCD nearly every week for the past four years. Tom and Murphy are counted as favorite visitors to several individuals at HLCCD who love taking Murphy for walks and hanging out with Tom. Sergeant Dye has been known to make special trips for holidays and birthdays and often brings gifts to his friends for these occasions. His presence at HLCCD brings smiles to the faces of individuals, families and staff alike.

2006 Individual Award for Service:
Marilyn Styblo

Marilyn Styblo has been volunteering at HLCCD for more than 15 years. During that time she has been a special friend to many of the individuals who call HLCCD home and has assisted as a volunteer in our pool area, classrooms and most recently with our ACHIEVE program. Mrs. Styblo has also coordinated professional-quality puppet shows performed at HLCCD that have received rave reviews. She is truly a multi-talented, generous and warm-hearted individual, and we are honored to have her as a volunteer with our organization.

2006 Individual Award for Service:
Jacinda White

Jacinda and one of the ladies of the Norton community home.

Jacinda White is our very first enrichment volunteer for Community Services, and what a great example to start with! Jacinda visits with ladies at the Norton home who have come to love her and look forward to her visits. From singing to nature walks to watching game shows, all of the time Jacinda spends with them is quality time. She’s been known to bring sugar-free treats for the ladies on special occasions, as well as CDs and DVDs of their favorite country music singers from her personal library. A young career woman and newlywed, she has many commitments and we’re grateful that one of them is to her friends at Norton. Jacinda knows disability does not define a person. The love, friendship and concern she shows her friends at Hattie Larlham is beyond admirable: it’s who she is.

2006 Family Award for Service:
The Hanlon Family

When Stacey Hanlon responded to our need for volunteer holiday decorators, not only did she show up filled with holiday spirit, she recruited her sister Mimi and their mother Patricia to help make the season bright for the ladies at the Northampton home. The Hanlons took their work very seriously, methodically laying out a plan to set up and decorate three Christmas trees. They even sorted decorations to make sure each tree had a personalized ornament for each lady living in the home. The Hanlons took such pride in volunteering for the women of Northampton that they returned in the New Year to properly pack and label the decorations from each tree, as well as the lights and door decorations. The Hanlons are a go-to family when we’re in need. Residents could not stop smiling about their decorated home, so it’s fitting we thank those who put the smiles there.

2006 Family Award for Service:
THE Stokes Family

Anne and Elizabeth Stokes began volunteering at HLCCD in spring of 2006. Elizabeth is a member of our Teen Volunteer Corps, and her mother Anne has assisted as a volunteer in our hydrotherapy pool and has helped out weekly with clerical assignments for several departments. On Christmas Day, Anne’s husband Mark and daughter Emily joined our volunteer ranks as well when the whole family came to HLCCD to spread holiday cheer and share Christmas cards with individuals throughout the building. The Stokes Family has shown ongoing generosity and support for Hattie Larlham, and their smiling faces and warm hearts are a welcome addition to our volunteer corps.

2006 Organization Award for Service:
The American Sewing Guild of Ellet

The American Sewing Guild of Ellet.

Members of The American Sewing Guild of Ellet have created nearly 100 shirt protectors for individuals served by Hattie Larlham Community Services. Shirt protectors are used daily by many of our residents, and often form is forfeited for function, but the Guild made protectors that are attractive, softer and in fabric choices that can coordinate with an individual’s outfit. Staff began raving immediately about which residents would love which protector. From the pizza theme to the polar bear pattern, these protectors are truly enjoyed. Because of the Guild, residents have choices that are fashionable, not a distraction to their outfits, giving them a more inclusive feel in the community.

2006 Organization Award for Service:
Firsrt Mennonite Church of Canton

Youth Pastor Darin Nissley headed up a group of nine youth and adult volunteers who spent an entire week in June assisting with our summer camp program and completing improvement projects at the HLCCD. Individuals who live at the HLCCD and children from the community alike benefited from the activities and games led by this volunteer group, and more individuals were able to receive one-on-one interaction. By the end of the week, the group had also left our buses and vans sparkling clean on the outside and neat and tidy on the inside, and they gave our NatureAll a thorough cleaning and weeding as well. The energy and enthusiasm exhibited by every member of the group was contagious and left us feeling that their visit was over far too soon.

2006 School Award for Service:
Kent State University

Kent State University Super Saturday.

We’ve had the pleasure of participating in the KSU Super Saturday volunteer program for the 2006-07 school year and have worked with many outstanding student volunteers over the past months. Kent State students volunteered for a variety of projects and activities, including a beauty day for the young women at HLCCD, a shopping trip for individuals living in our community homes and an ornament-decorating craft benefiting individuals at several of our sites. We have greatly enjoyed working with all of the new volunteers referred to us through the KSU Center for Student Involvement and we look forward to continuing this relationship in the future.