DATE: Sunday, April 27, 1997                TAG: 9704250226

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   34 lines

SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HONORS VOLUNTEERS AT LUNCHEON

Nearly 200 cheerful people gathered for food and fellowship last week at the annual recognition luncheon for the city's Social Services volunteers.

Bright balloon bouquets adorned the tables at St. Nicholas Catholic Church on Little Neck Road. Flowers donated by local florists helped illustrate the garden-party theme. Upbeat music was provided by the Jazz Ensemble of the Governor's Magnet School for the Arts.

Volunteers perform a wide variety of functions, from providing respite day care to assisting the elderly. In 1996 they gave 34,998 hours of social service support.

Emcee Joe Hoppel kept the audience chuckling with his humorous anecdotes and quips. A veteran of 41 years of country music radio, Hoppel was warmly received by the group, which included his sometime-volunteer daughter Judi Wilkinson.

Special honors went to two longtime volunteers of Social Service's clothing closet.

Carol Lewis has helped staff the clothing operation for 11 years. She began volunteering after coming in to donate clothes. Marie Bosnich has been volunteering for many years. Early on she used her background in dietetics to assist the Basic Needs Unit in providing meals for needy citizens.

Both volunteers received plaques recognizing their contributions and gifts chosen especially for them.

City officials attending included City Manager Jim Spore, and Councilwomen Louisa Strayhorn and Nancy Parker. The Rev. Randy Orwig offered the blessing over a meal that was prepared by church volunteers and served by Social Service staffers.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu