Local volunteers honored

  • Brenda Blount (right) receives her award from Susan Dean, AmeriCorps program coordinator, for Person of the Year in Texana on March 25 at The Ballroom in Murphy. The event honored 37 local volunteers.
    Brenda Blount (right) receives her award from Susan Dean, AmeriCorps program coordinator, for Person of the Year in Texana on March 25 at The Ballroom in Murphy. The event honored 37 local volunteers.
  • Susan Dean (left) awards Nancy Helms of Grape Creek with the Volunteer of the Year honor at a March 25 dinner. At right is birthday boy and Murphy Mayor Tim Radford.
    Susan Dean (left) awards Nancy Helms of Grape Creek with the Volunteer of the Year honor at a March 25 dinner. At right is birthday boy and Murphy Mayor Tim Radford.
  • Jim Mason accepts his award from Susan Dean, AmeriCorps program coordinator, recognizing his efforts in litter cleanup in Cherokee County. Mason oversees a group of dedicated volunteers called the Litter Warrior Team for the Anti-litter in Action Coalition of Cherokee County.
    Jim Mason accepts his award from Susan Dean, AmeriCorps program coordinator, recognizing his efforts in litter cleanup in Cherokee County. Mason oversees a group of dedicated volunteers called the Litter Warrior Team for the Anti-litter in Action Coalition of Cherokee County.

    Murphy – “We’ve got a coalition of volunteers in our county,” Nancy Helms said at a volunteer appreciation dinner March 25.

    The event, sponsored by the Town of Murphy and N.C. Commission on Volunteerism & Community Service, hosted about 100 volunteers, who provide oxygen to the lifeblood of the community.

    The event, held at The Ballroom downtown, saw 37 volunteers honored with certificates awarded by Mayor Tim Radford, the volunteerism and community service commissioner, and Susan Dean, program coordinator for AmeriCorps. Helms, an active volunteer, said the event was inspired by the hundreds of local volunteers who served in varied capacities, including litter pickup, Shop with a Cop and Make a Difference Day.

    Helms herself won the prestigious Volunteer of the Year and stood beside fellow honorees, Brenda Blount, Person of the Year in the Texana community, and John Mason of the Anti-litter in Action Coalition for his work galvanizing his Litter Warrior’s Team in Cherokee County.

    Downtown Pizza catered the event, serving more than 30 pizzas and salad. The event doubled as a surprise 50th birthday party for the reticent Radford. He was escorted to the dinner by Jim Ivy in a hearse and presented with a 12-layer chocolate cake, baked by Frances Christian in his honor.

    Guests were treated to a choice of a gluten free cake, amoretto or coconut cake. Linda Dubois, a local songwriter, provided keyboard entertainment singing the wildly popular “Possum Drop Song.”

    Commissioner Jan Griggs attended the event, saying, “This is absolutely awesome. Everything just fell into place.”