More than 270 volunteers attended the Rowan Helping Ministries volunteer recognition banquet held earlier this month at First Baptist Church.
Rowan Helping Ministries celebrated its volunteers on March 15. First Baptist members prepared and served the meal.
Tippie Miller, Rowan Helping Ministries board chair told the volunteers they were critical to the ministry, without which Rowan Helping Ministries would not be able to open their doors.
Last year, more than 2,500 people volunteered 40,000 hours at Rowan Helping Ministries.
Cam Campbell, Director of Resource Development and Community Relations, recognized four very special volunteers: Willie Charle-ston, a Second Helping driver, picks up donated food from local Food Lion stores twice a week. Charleston has been a Second Helping driver for almost two decades.
Marie Hocutt and Nell Baxter both volunteer weekly in the clothing room, sorting clothes and helping mothers pick clothes for their
families. Hocutt was recognized for her dedicated service of 20 years and Baxter for her service of six years.
Judy Wirt, a volunteer in the Soup Kitchen, works with a team that prepares the noon meal every Monday. Wirt was recognized for the dedicated service of 10 years.
Dr. Michael Connor, a professor teaching theatre and speech courses at Livingstone College, was the guest speaker.
Connor, who is also a volunteer, shared dramatic readings from a play he had written about his experiences working with shelter guests in the New Tomorrows program.
He told volunteers ěit doesnít matter as much what you say or do as a volunteer, what matters is that you are there for people who are in need.î
ěTrue greatness is in serving others,î he said.