HONORED-CARES volunteers were recently honored receiving a Medallion Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Pausing for photo are the luncheon's keynote speaker Lee Kinard, CARES Director Vickie Scott, who received the award on the volunteers' behalf, and Alleghany Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Bamberg, the county's volunteer recognition coordinator.

CARES earns statewide honor

Alleghany Christians Associated for Relief and Emergency Services (CARES) was presented with one of 20 medallion awards received in the state for outstanding volunteer service.

CARES Executive Director Vickie Scott, who nominated the organization's volunteers for the honor, accepted the award presented by key note speaker Lee Kinard on their behalf at a luncheon held Feb. 13 at Magnolia Manor in Greensboro. Also attending the event were Alleghany Chamber Director Bob Bamberg and Eva Rice, a CARES board member who is in charge of the organization's volunteers.

When asked to talk about the events at the luncheon, Scott and Bamberg commented they were "humbled" by the other organizations and individuals who were recognized as medallion winners. "We had some stiff competition," he stated.

Each of the individuals who came to the event received a small booklet that spoke briefly about each of the Medallion Award recipients. The entry on Alleghany CARES read, "Each volunteer becomes a part of the difference Alleghany CARES makes. People from all walks of life...doctors, pharmacists, nurses, teachers, tennis pros, homemakers, law enforcement, business executives, etc. make up the active volunteers who in turn collectively combine their talents to help provide the community with services that may not be available, or affordable elsewhere. Without the volunteers, Alleghany CARES could not have accomplished as much as it did last year. Alleghany CARES has been serving the community for (about) 15 years at more than 250 hours a week. Not only giving their time, Alleghany CARES last year provided educational scholarships, free prescriptions, shoes, clothes and many other vital necessities."

Over the course of the afternoon, in addition to Alleghany County, Medallion awards were presented to individuals, groups, teams and businesses in Alexander, Beaufort, Buncombe, Burke, Carteret, Currituck, Dare, Davidson, Edgecombe, Franklin, Lee, McDowell, New Hanover, Orange, Rutherford, Sampson, Vance, Wake and Wayne counties. During the interview last week, CARES Director Scott reiterated her appreciation to the organization's volunteers.

"Alleghany CARES could not come anywhere close to being able to accomplish the physical work (and) the monetary work that is done in the county without its volunteers."

 

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