Murphy – Local children will be missing one of their biggest advocates as the holidays draw near. Don Slifer, coordinator of Cherokee County Toys for Tots, moved to West Virginia this week.
However, Barbara Hudson, who is taking over as local coordinator, said Slifer’s leadership skills molded a solid team of volunteers in place to provide for children.
“It is definitely a loss for sure,” Hudson said. “We will definitely miss him and wish him well.”
She said she especially enjoyed watching him interact with children, even the older ones who were volunteering their time, too.
“It seems like his heart was with the children,” Hudson said.
Slifer and his wife, Jackie, moved to Murphy about 11 years ago from Memphis. Soon after moving, he became a Guardian Ad Litem, just filing his last report. Once it was up and running, he added becoming a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cherokee County and eventually became the organization’s program coordinator, serving in that role for six years.
He has also volunteered with Warriors Veteran Outreach as its public information officer. In addition, he volunteered with Toys for Tots for several years before taking over the role of local coordinator from John Evans – Hudson’s father – three years ago.
Slifer, who is from New Jersey, went to college at the University of Missouri. After a couple of years, he served in the U.S. Army, then returned to complete his degree in elementary education.
“I’ve always had an interest in working with kids,” he said.
Slifer taught fifth grade for three years – two in New Orleans and one in Liberty, Mo. He was working toward his master’s degree to become an administrator when he realized he’d have to teach for 10 more years before he could become a principal. As a result, he used his skills to go into something else he was always interested in – marketing.
He and Jackie moved to Murphy after his retirement, thinking this would be their “last stop.” They liked the mountains after vacationing in the area.
“We really liked it here,” Slifer said. “We will certainly miss it more than any other place we’ve lived.”
He sought community service opportunities because he wanted to help kids and meet people in the community. He learned about Guardian Ad Litem by reading the Cherokee Scout. After Big Brothers Big Sisters was formed in 2010, he became a Big Brother, and continued volunteering as Big Brother when he was named program coordinator two years later.
Tom Spencer, founder of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cherokee County and former chairman of its advisory council, worked closely with Slifer over the years, and said Slifer’s leadership was “instrumental in getting the program off the ground.”
“We’re going to miss him in the community,” Spencer said. “I just can’t say enough nice things about him. He’s an asset.”
Besides being a tireless, sincere, hard worker, Slifer was dedicated to children, Spencer said. He saw it in the face of one of Slifer’s Little Brothers during an outing to a baseball game he and his Little Brother took with them.
“You could tell his Little Brother really respected him,” Spencer said.
One of the difficult parts of moving for Slifer is missing spending time with his two middle school-age Little Brothers.
“I used to say to people that so many of the children are starving for affection, and when you’re coming to see them, they really light up,” Slifer said. “The fact that you showing kids attention, and they really respond.”
He made the move to be closer to his son, who lives in Pittsburgh, as well as to be closer to health-care providers. Slifer has been planning the move for several months and has been working closely with Hudson, who has been assistant local coordinator for Cherokee County Toys for Tots for three years and has served with the organization since 2016. He didn’t know all the service opportunities that are available at his new home as he prepared for his move, but was ready to serve his new community.
“I expect I’ll get involved in something,” Slifer said. “You meet so many good people in that kind of work.”