2024 Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Award honorees Michelle Smeltzer and Nichole Johns serve the community of Warren County, Virginia, through a variety of volunteer organizations. They are committed to working for the betterment of the community, volunteering together at community organizations such as the Warren Coalition, Concern Hotline, Dinner Together, House of Hope, and Reaching Out Now. Together, Michelle and Nichole amassed close to 1,000 hours of community service in the past year. 

They also serve on the Board of Directors for Hope and Rest Temporary Shelter (HARTS), which Michelle help create when she saw the need and then worked to coalesce a community group to provide shelter through twelve local churches. Michelle and Nichole work tirelessly to ensure homeless residents have a safe and warm space to spend winter nights, raising funds, driving a van to take unhoused residents to the shelter, scheduling meals and personnel, doing laundry, and keeping the peace. Between 30 and 40 people are served nightly by the shelter, December through April. Since its inception in 2018, HARTS has served more than 250 Warren County residents.  

Through their work with local churches, Michelle and Nichole have been able to keep HARTS open during the winter months, even through the pandemic. Additionally, the pair volunteers relentlessly throughout the community and continue to advocate for the most vulnerable residents.