Congratulations to the Health Wagon of Wise – winner of the 2019 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Faith-Based Organization! For more than 25 years, the Health Wagon has provided compassionate, quality health care to the medically under-served individuals and families in the Appalachian Mountains. Originally sent to the region in 1980 by the Richmond Catholic Diocese, Sister Bernie Kenny began dispensing healthcare from her Volkswagen Beetle. Today, the Health Wagon is a free, mobile clinic and two stationary clinics delivering quality health care which last year treated more than 4,000 of the neediest individuals in Southwestern Virginia – 86 percent with no insurance who would not have been able to access quality healthcare otherwise. In 2018, The Health Wagon had nearly 3,500 individuals volunteer with the organization. Volunteers provide primary and preventive care, dental, behavioral health, tele-health, and specialty care. In addition to their routine services, they provide the region with strategically coordinated outreach efforts and are currently leading the charge to sign up patients who are eligible for Virginia’s newly expanded Medicaid program.
The Health Wagon’s Remote Area Medical – Wise Health Expedition, held annually, is the largest medical outreach of its kind in the nation. Thousands of individuals come to this three-day event and get needed free eye, dental, medical and diagnostic services. This event demonstrates unprecedented collaboration of a multidisciplinary group that consists of dentists, ophthalmologists, opticians, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses, physicians, emergency medical technicians, and more.
For the families and individuals living in this region, the Health Wagon has truly been a lifesaver for addressing health care disparities in a population that has few resources in health care.
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Robert Schnapp
Story of Service: Robert Schnapp
In Reston, Virginia, Robert Schnapp is the founder and leader of A Simple Gesture Reston, an effort that inspires and enables his community to help neighbors overcome the growing threat of hunger and food insecurity. Eight years ago, Bob realized that many donors work Monday through Friday “business hours” and that local pantries were mainly open for donations during those same hours, making it a challenge to donate. In the beginning, he served more than 40 hours a week to get the program off the ground, doing everything from signing up donors and drivers, to creating routes, sending emails, delivering...
Cydny Neville
Story of Service: Cydny Neville
Congratulations to Cyndy Neville of Prince William County -- winner of the 2017 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Adult Volunteer! Full-time teacher Cydny Neville's commitment to students, their families, and her community goes way beyond the classroom. Cydny serves a minimum of 20 hours per week organizing community outreach across Prince William County and Northern Virginia. Her passion for the Prince William community led her to help individuals who are trying to start new businesses. Cyndy has assisted more than 100 small business owners with professional development training and has helped them secure business licenses by...
Bruce Lamond
Story of Service: Bruce Lamond
Bruce Lamond is a second-year Virginia College Advising Corps adviser at Mecklenburg County High School, which just opened in 2022. He served in the Marine Corps for several years before graduating from the University of Virginia in 2022. During his military service, Bruce became passionate about youth mentorship, prompting him to pursue a degree in Youth and Social Innovation and to step into several student support roles at UVA. “I learned about AmeriCorps and VCAC in my senior year of college when an assistant director of VCAC presented on the program in one of my classes,” recalls Bruce. “As soon...
Miriam Farris
Story of Service: Miriam Farris
Igniting a Passion for Learning for Struggling Students Miriam Farris is an AmeriCorps member and tutor with The Literacy Lab - Virginia Reading Corps program at Elizabeth Redd Elementary School in Richmond. Redd is a Title I school, which means that a high percentage of its students come from low-income families. Miriam reflects on a recent experience she had working with a struggling student. "I serve fifteen students each day, some of whom are immigrants and English language learners (ELL)," explains Miriam. "My ELL students speak Spanish at home, and they rarely have the benefit of parental reinforcement when it...
CrossOver Health Ministry
Story of Service: CrossOver Health Ministry
Congratulations to CrossOver Health Ministry of Richmond - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Community Organization! COVID-19 has magnified the dramatic healthcare disparities existing in communities across the country. CrossOver Healthcare Ministry has not only stepped up to provide outstanding medical care, but has gone above and beyond to be there in incredible ways. CrossOver operates two charitable healthcare clinics – one in the City of Richmond and one in Henrico County. Founded in 1983, the clinics provide healthcare to approximately 5,500 uninsured and medically underserved individuals each year. Many of CrossOver’s patients (60%)...
Walter Hussey
Story of Service: Walter Hussey
John Muir once said “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” Thanks to Walter Hussey, winner of the 2016 Governor's Award for Outstanding Adult Volunteer, there is one more beautiful place in Virginia to do just that. Walter’s passion and excitement for nature led him to plan, map out and implement the 70-acre Meadow Management Program space at Pleasant Grove Park in Fluvanna County. He was instrumental in developing partnerships with six state agencies and a long list of other organizations...