Lori Schmiege & Huey Gordon

RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

May 3, 2023

National Service Alumni of the Year Huey Gordon & Lorie Schmiege, CARITAS, Richmond Both AmeriCorps Alums with CARITAS, the dynamic duo of Lori Schmiege and Huey Gordon manage the CARITAS Furniture Bank operations. Lori, who served from 2010-2011, and Huey, who served from 2011-2012, both react with empathy and a resolve to “get things done,” attitudes they developed as members. They are also both willing and happy to coach and mentor other AmeriCorps members and ultimately show these members how to be excellent employees when they move on to the workforce. Since joining CARITAS staff, they have mentored 40 AmeriCorps members — that’s 40 hires, 40 written performance development plans and over 100 reviews, and 40 lives touched with daily coaching and mentoring! The tenure of service between Huey and Lori makes them a unique team spreading their light and big hearts within the CARITAS organization while doing the hard work that needs to be done. Read more Volunteer Stories! Submit a Story!

Chris Sandquist

Story of Service: Chris Sandquist

Thanks to his lifelong commitment to service, Virginia AmeriCorps member Chris Sandquist is a recipient of the Harris Wofford Joint Service Award, honoring individuals who have successfully completed both a full-time service term or its equivalent in AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Chris grew up in Waynesboro, Virginia, before moving to Maine for college and then spending two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, North Africa, where he taught English as a Foreign Language to businesspeople and college students at the Tunisian National Institute of Modern Languages. He recalls, "Joining the Peace Corps after college was a...

The Berry Family

Story of Service: The Berry Family

The Berry Family of Harrisonburg, Virginia, saw a local need related to food insecurity in their area. Dubbed the "Brent Berry Food Drive," in honor of their son, Brent, the family took the initiative to help meet the need. This is a massive drive that they have conducted for 15 years, with the 2022 drive being the largest ever, collecting an estimated $65,000 in food and personal hygiene items for community members in need. They donate the collected items to the local Salvation Army, effectively stocking their pantry for a large portion of the year. Rather than being forced to...

Averett University

Story of Service: Averett University

Congratulations to Averett University of Danville - winner of the 2019 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Educational Institution! Service is woven into the fabric of Averett University. Averett’s mission is to prepare students to serve and lead as catalysts for positive change. The university’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC) is a primary example of their dedication to service. CCECC is an innovative program which serves as a facilitator for pairing volunteers from Averett, Danville Community College, and Piedmont Community College with local organizations such as God’s Storehouse, the Boys & Girls Club of the Dan...

Mark Fero

Story of Service: Mark Fero

Having offered years of service and expertise to Serve Virginia, Mark Fero recently concluded his term on the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism (GAB). Mark first got involved in service and volunteerism in 1988 when Robert Eggar asked him if he wanted to volunteer and help him start the DC Central Kitchen, an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation, which opened in 1989. Mark reflects, "Since then, DC Central Kitchen has became one of the most respected and emulated nonprofit agencies in the world, producing and distributing more than 4,000...

Julie Strandlie

Story of Service: Julie Strandlie

Having offered years of service and expertise to Serve Virginia, Julie Strandlie recently concluded multiple terms on the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism (GAB). "I have thoroughly enjoyed my eight years of service on the Governor’s Advisory Board and, since 2023, as chair of the Virginia Service Foundation," she reflects. "I was first appointed in 2015 by Governor Terry McAuliffe to an unexpired term and then reappointed twice by Governor Ralph Northam. I was also honored to serve as [GAB] Board Chair for two years." "I am so proud of the appointed Board and the fantastic [Serve Virginia] staff...

Constance Whiteside

Story of Service: Constance Whiteside

As a Summer 2024 Serve Virginia Honor Roll honoree, Constance Whiteside is a dedicated volunteer with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). Here's her Story of Service in her own words: "In all my past careers—Associate Professor of Medicine at U.C. Davis, professional harpist, Senior Outreach Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States—I can think of nothing more meaningful than the time I spend at AWLA. It is truly an outstanding organization in every way. The care they give animals, both for physical needs and to reduce their fear, anxiety and stress, is extraordinary. Volunteers...

What’s Your Volunteer Personality?

Pair your passion with purpose. Take our Volunteer Personality Quiz and find out which volunteer direction is best for you.