Six Gaston volunteers receive awards from the governor's office

The North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community has awarded the 2024 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award to six recipients from Gaston County. The award honors the true spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals, groups and businesses that make significant contributions to their community through volunteer service. Recipients are nominated by members of their community and then selected by the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism & Community Service, known as VolunteerNC, and housed within the office of the governor.

One of the Gaston County recipients, Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry, received the Governor’s Medallion Award, which was presented in Raleigh on May 6, 2024, along with 16 other nominees from across the state. Rain or shine, Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry brings together volunteers from Mt. Zion Restoration Church, other local churches, schools, interested citizens, and others, feeding approximately 3,000 families per week. The organization has expanded cooperation with other non-profits and government entities, providing services for those in need to address food insecurity one citizen at a time.

The Medallion recipient and other county award recipients were recognized at the June 25, 2024, Gaston County Commission meeting following a proclamation from the Commission recognizing outstanding volunteer service. The award certificates and lapel pins were presented to the recipients by Barbara Yarbrough, county awards coordinator, who described each individual or organization’s volunteer service, and Andrea Stephens, president of United Way of Gaston County. A reception was held at the United Way earlier in the afternoon honoring the recipients.

The 2024 Award Recipients are:

Medallion Award

Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry: Volunteers with this organization offer nutritious food and support services to individuals in the Greater Gaston County area. This award was accepted by Rev. Dr. Rodney Freeman on behalf of Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry.

Other award recipients

Sandy DeMarco: Her volunteer efforts support the Friends of the Gaston County Public Library, Keep Gastonia Beautiful, Backpack Weekend Food Program, and Gaston Literacy Council.

Jami Gibson: A volunteer with Gaston Literacy Council’s Reading Soulmates Program and volunteer as an ESL teacher.

Denise Harris: Volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston, Guardian ad Litem program, Master Gardeners, and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

Jodie Lawrence-Brian: Volunteer with Special Olympics.

Rev. Ephraim Winkfield: Volunteer with the American Red Cross and Crisis Assistance Ministry.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Six Gaston volunteers receive awards from the governor's office