McDowell County has some outstanding volunteers who deserve recognition.
The North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service will present the 2024 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award to four recipients from McDowell County. The N.C. Governor’s Volunteer Award recipients are Marie Franklin, nominated by Amy Dowdle with the McDowell Pregnancy Center; Raelyn Skultety, nominated by Teresa McCurry with McDowell County Animal Shelter; and a group nomination for Marion Moose No. 1705, nominated by Robert Frick. The N.C. Governor’s Volunteer Medallion Award goes to Vivian Poole, nominated by Jennifer Taylor-Ivy with McDowell County Senior Center.
The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors people who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by making a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. The award was created in the office of the governor in 1979, according to the news release.
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The Marion Moose No. 1705 were recognized for what they do. They are Dennis Marak, outer guard; Charles Bumgarner, assistant sergeant-at-arms; Tillman Powell, one-year trustee; Todd Hurst, two-year trustee; Nolie Baker, three-year trustee; George Guinn, president; Rick Bradley, past president; Robbie Rose, chaplain; David Sisk, sergeant-at-arms; Jenny Sisk, inner guard; Anthony Price, past administrator; Bob Wilson, vice president; David Miller, treasurer; Shelia Yelton, acting administrator; and Al Reel, liaison/territory manager.
Women of the Marion Moose officers are Sharon Hall, secretary; Hope Miller, senior regent; and Alicia Rose, treasurer.
Marion Moose No. 1705 was nominated by Robert Frick. Marion Moose is about celebrating life together, serving those in need within our local community, supporting the children at Mooseheart and standing by the senior members at Moosehaven. There are approximately 2,830 members that have all contributed in their own ways to the volunteer work that they are being recognized for. Marion Moose No. 1705 was recognized last year in Reno as the No. 1 chapter in community service. They have helped with Safe Surfin’ Children/EZ Child ID and Senior ID program. They have put in more than 300 hours trying to protect our children and seniors. They have made a $500 donation to Mercy Animal Rescue in Marion. At Moose Riders Grocery Giveaway, they have given $5,115 to McDowell County residents in need. They have gotten $7,000 in donations worth of mammograms and prostate exams for local residents in need through Blue Ridge Radiology. They have had a kids Christmas party with Santa ($2,026) in which they give away food boxes to families in need ($600), and gifts for children in need ($7,500). They also do a local annual veterans’ meal and program that they raised $828 for. They raised $200 for USMC Toys for Tots. They cooked and served a Christmas meal for the Nebo fire department and have donated $1,500 to them. They do quarterly blood drives each year. They have helped McDowell County Senior Games with a sponsorship of $500. They helped Girl Scouts with doing cookie drives and donated $200. They did a fundraiser for the Donald E. Davis Memorial Veterans Transport raising $5,210. They also do the Cuddles of Love blankets which are made by volunteers and given to those in need. They hosted a Kids/Youth river tubing, fishing tournament, crafts, etc. event. They also did a food and coat drive to help residents of McDowell County as well. These are just a few of the many things that the volunteers of Marion Moose No. 1705 do throughout the year every year for our community. In total, the Marion Moose No. 1705 volunteers have about 152 hours per week of community service. They have done about 7,908 hours as a group for this past year, according to the news release.
Marie Franklin was nominated because of her dedication as a volunteer of the McDowell Pregnancy Center. After she retired from teaching, Franklin jumped right into giving back to her community that she loves so much. She began with McDowell Pregnancy Center in 2017. When she comes to volunteer, she is always on time with a smile on her face and ready to work. She greets clients, cleans and sorts donations, helps with paperwork, keeps their boutique organized, and she attends community events and speaking engagements to help raise awareness for their organization. Franklin works about eight hours per week and has worked 384 hours this past year in total. She also helps with the planning of all fundraising events for the center. In addition, she is very involved with her church, Bethel Baptist; Hearts with Hands; and the American Red Cross. Many lives have been impacted by her selfless commitment to serving others.
Raelyn Skultety was nominated because of her hard work and dedication to the McDowell County Animal Shelter. She has been a volunteer with the animal shelter for two and a half years. She helps about four times a week. She cares so much about the animals at the shelter that she gets so upset if she is not able to make it in on occasion. The dogs get so excited to see her every time she is there. Skultety takes every dog out to the play yard several times a day no matter the weather. She cleans the yard after each dog is done outside. She keeps the yard very neat and makes sure the rocks are raked back in the yard. She will even bring in tools from home to make the job easier. When she was sick and couldn’t be there, she would call the shelter to check in on each of the dogs each day. She always brings treats and toys in for them as well. She has a heart of gold and always wears a smile on her face, with a treat in her hand. She feels she should be there as often as she can because it brings her great joy. On average she volunteers about 16 hours a week, and this year alone she has volunteered 832 hours. McDowell County Animal Shelter is very appreciative of all the work that she has done there, according to the news release.
This year’s N.C. Governor’s Volunteer Medallion award will be presented to Vivian Poole. She has been delivering meals for McDowell County Senior Center’s Home Delivered Meals program since 2015. She had taken over the route when her husband William Poole’s health started to decline. Vivian volunteers three days a week totaling nine hours a week and this year alone she has completed 432 hours. She comes to the center every morning early and helps load up the supplies onto the van for the A.C. Bud Hogan Community Center lunch program. Over the years, Vivian has helped train several new volunteers to learn the routine of being a home delivered meal driver. Vivian is so friendly, and patient and you can see it in the way she handles each of her clients on her route.
They all get so excited to see her. She is also very compassionate and spends a little bit of time with each of the clients on her route, assisting them in different ways. For some clients she will get the mail outside and bring it to them because they are unable to get out of the house or it’s difficult. Or she will get silverware for some so everything is ready for them to eat. Vivian will bring birthday bags for those on her route and even some dog treats for her furry friends on her route. She has a man who is mostly blind on her route, and she will read him the menu for the next day, so he knows what to expect, and she also tells him what he is eating that day.
When Vivian isn’t helping the Senior Center, you can find her volunteering with Marion Moose No. 1705 Chapter No. 1428. Vivian has been a member and volunteer with them for over 45 years. Since 2012, Vivian has been involved with the Safe Surfin’ Child IDs/ EZ Child and Senior IDs. This program is so important to Vivian and many other Moose members. Vivian has also helped with Pink Night, which is the biggest fundraising event that Marion Moose holds each year. All proceeds they collect from this event help McDowell residents that are not insured get mammograms and prostate exams. Vivian also helps with their Christmas for Children in need. She volunteered at the pizza night/lady’s night they had and encouraged all those that attended to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots program. Vivian does a lot for McDowell County. This past year alone she has volunteered with Marion Moose about 500 hours of her time. Vivian is a woman that likes to keep busy and has a drive to help her community. Most of all, she has a heart of gold and will help anyone in need if she is able, according to the news release.
“As you know, we have many incredible volunteers throughout this county. These volunteers that won the N.C. Governor’s Volunteer Award deserve to be recognized for going above and beyond,” reads a statement from the Volunteer Center. “We appreciate all they have done and continue to do to help make McDowell County a better community. If you know of an outstanding volunteer in this county that deserves to be recognized, please advise the organization to nominate them at the end of November 2024 for the N.C. Governor’s Volunteer Award for 2025. We can recognize up to 10 volunteers each year that have gone above and beyond. You can contact Jennifer Taylor-Ivy, who is the McDowell County volunteer coordinator, at 828-659-0826 for more information. Thank you to all these volunteers for the tremendous work you all have done and continue to do. We appreciate you more than you will ever know.”