Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CLEMMONS — Along with other organizations across the nation, Clemmons Food Pantry is celebrating National Volunteer Week by recognizing the contributions of local volunteers.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week gives organizations an opportunity to pause and appreciate the selfless acts of service by volunteers who make communities stronger.

In celebration, Clemmons Food Pantry Executive Director Mike Sullivan, presented service awards to volunteers who recently reached milestones for lifetime service with the organization.

They and their fellow volunteers contributed more than 16,000 hours in the past year to make the community stronger and fulfill the pantry’s mission to reduce hunger by providing supplemental groceries to residents of Forsyth County and surrounding communities. 

The following individuals received pins recognizing them for their respective milestone achievement:

• 4,000 hours: Cathy Ober and Wilda Sudderth
• 3,000 hours: Charlie Cunnigham
• 2,500 hours: Nancy Lertola
• 2,000 hours: Jim Comer
• 1,500 hours: Beth Martin
• 1,000 hours: Donna Birchem, Dick Birchem, Rita Carr, Tay Coan, Carol Hardy, Jean Moser, Karen Owen and Kendric Penner
• 750 hours: MaryAnn Dowd, and Pam Giarla
• 500 hours: Tim Collare, Holly McKinney, Derek Rennick, Lee Stallard, Susan Tait, Steve Tschhirn and Michael Woodward
• 250 hours: Debbie Barnette, Robert Blatner, Marilyn Bosley, Carol Christine, Jen Dauphinais, Mike Johnson, Betsy McGhee, Pat Morrow, Patrick Nichols, Stephanie Ostdahl, Linda Pasche, Mark Pasche, Iris Pillsbury, Ron Pillsbury, Julie Reitzel, Linda Scipio-Stewart, Teela Tschirn, Tracy Walin and Helga Welsh

When talking about her award, Morrow equated receiving her pin to the notable tradition of companies gifting a “gold watch.”

“National Volunteer Week is celebrated once a year, but the Clemmons Food Pantry is grateful all year long for the volunteering that happens every day to ensure stocked shelves and uninterrupted service for our neighbors facing food insecurity,” wrote the organization in a press release.

To become a volunteer or for more information about the Clemmons Food Pantry, go to www.clemmonsfoodpantry.org. Volunteer trainings are held monthly at the pantry, and new volunteers are always welcome.