Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991 TAG: 9104180143
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Free Clinic of the New River Valley and the Montgomery County Christmas Store are among 29 gold medal winners in the 1991 statewide volunteer recognition program. The awards will be presented to organization officials on Sunday at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
The ceremony is being held in conjunction with National Volunteer Week, April 21-27.
"This feels great," said Rebecca Noftsinger, executive director of the free clinic, where the skills and resources of some 300 volunteers are coordinated to provide free medical and dental care to needy residents.
"This is a real positive affirmation of our volunteering efforts," Noftsinger said. "We were founded on volunteer efforts, and that's what has helped us to survive."
The volunteer doctors, dentists, lab technicians, nurses, aides, pharmacists and counselors have been helping the working poor in the New River Valley for almost 12 years. And although United Way gives significant financial support, in-kind services and fund-raisers also contribute to the clinic's operating expenses.
The Montgomery County Christmas Store, which will be in its 10th year in December, is another successful organization that has gained attention because of hundreds of volunteers who show up each year to help the needy.
Last year, a reported 1,500 volunteers helped at the store, where points replace cash so low-income families can buy Christmas gifts.
"This award means we have the recognition we deserve in the community," said Barbara Keown, one of four co-chairwomen for the 1990 Christmas Store. "This is such a big community effort that couldn't happen any other way."
Keown will travel to Richmond to accept the gold medal with co-chairwomen Janice Sherman, who also runs the YMCA Thrift Shop, and Linda Greaver, a Christiansburg High School teacher. Sherrie O'Neil, another co-chairwoman, has since moved to Florida.
Keown will remain a chairwoman for the 1991 store. A May 6 meeting is planned to elect new officers.
"We have tried for years to get all social groups, civic organizations and churches to join with us," said Keown. "I think it's happening more for us now."
"This is also a real pat on the back to Montgomery County," she added.
The governor's award was established in 1984 by the Virginia General Assembly, which issued a resolution requiring the state volunteerism department to start a recognition program for volunteers.
This year, more than 600 nominations of individuals and volunteer organizations were submitted to the Department of Volunteerism. A panel of judges chose the gold- and silver-medal finalists.
Fifty nominations came from Southwest Virginia, said Alison Limoges, director of the Voluntary Action Center in Blacksburg. Regional judging was handled by Voluntary Action centers across the state.
by CNB