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!

AmeriCorps Assists After Tornado

Story of Service: AmeriCorps Assists After Tornado

When the devastating tornadoes swept through Appomattox County last week, hundreds of volunteers immediately appeared to support the affected families. Among the volunteers, 16 ready-to-serve AmeriCorps members were deployed to assist with debris removal and cleanup. Virginia State Parks Virginia Service and Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program worked alongside volunteers from the community and faith-based groups to lend a helping hand. The Conservation Corps normally serves at parks throughout Virginia to work on projects like trail building, volunteer recruitment, and interpretive programming. Their outdoor project skills make them ideal to serve during times of disaster. One member commented about how they...

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...

Youth Education Program, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

Story of Service: Youth Education Program, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree the Youth Education Program (YEP) is a Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia team of certified Extension Master Gardeners that provides hands-on youth gardening education at local schools and youth organizations. With a focus on sustainable practices, YEP’s 10-15 members collectively worked approximately 1,400 hours in the past year and served nearly 20 different youth organizations, including elementary schools in Alexandria and Arlington, the local Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, and the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center. YEP members empower kids, caregivers, and teachers to practice sustainable gardening through fun activities related...

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...

Debbie Brubaker

Story of Service: Debbie Brubaker

Debbie Brubaker, a Franklin County beef and dairy farmer, has been honored with the 2019 Agriculture Advocate Award by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization and the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. The award recognizes Brubaker’s dedication to advancing agricultural literacy in her community for more than 10 years. In partnership with the Franklin County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, Brubaker has provided information about agriculture to an estimated 60,000 children. Over the years, Brubaker expanded a one-day dairy event at her children’s school to include 20 learning stations that teach students about topics like milking...

Mary Hines

Story of Service: Mary Hines

Senior Corps Foster Grandparent of the Year Mary Hines, Peninsula Foster Grandparent Program, Hampton Since 2005, Mary Hines has traveled nearly an hour each day to make made it her mission to be a source of encouragement for children. She regularly shares a poem she wrote for the students which conveys that they too can transform into a butterfly from a cocoon. Ms. Hines has been instrumental to other Foster Grandparents and future volunteers by sharing her experiences. She has been recognized in the past with several awards for service, including the Presidential Award for Service. Ms. Hines is a wonderful...

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