The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Herkimer County celebrated its twenty-fourth annual recognition luncheon at the Knights Inn in Little Falls on Wednesday.
Honored were the 354 volunteers who collectively contributed 34,050 hours of service at 50 active RSVP stations.
RSVP volunteers work at emergency feeding programs, congregate meal sites, tutor elementary school children in after-school reading programs, raise funds for local agencies, contribute to boards and advisory councils, transport seniors to doctor and hospital appointments, council seniors on health insurance coverage, serve clients at thrift stores, provide companionship to the homebound and knit and crochet infant caps and blankets for area hospitals and programs.
Receiving the Hours for Others Award was Virginia Springer, who since her retirement from working at the former Ilion Hospital, Folts Homes and the Meals on Wheels program, has continued working by doing maintenance, mowing lawns, shoveling and assisting her neighbors in any way she can. When not volunteering Springer can be seen walking her two poodles, Dolly and Lynn, around Mohawk.
The Miles for Others Award was presented to Joanne Zaffarano, who wasted little time after her retirement from Remington Arms in signing up as a driver for the RIDE Program. Since May 2008, Zaffarano has driven 2,500 miles, providing assistance to the frail elderly of Herkimer County. Her transportation runs often involve long-distance travel to appointments outside the local area, including Syracuse.
The Hearts for Others Award was presented to Patricia Oldfield, who has volunteered as a driver in the RIDE Program since October 2004. Oldfield has given selflessly of her time, transporting dialysis patients twice a week. There are no holidays from dialysis, and Oldfield has often provided transportation to people in need on holidays.
Certificates of recognition were given to Claudia Perrone and Virginia Springer for their 1,000 hours of volunteer service.
In addition, Dorothy DeMars, Irene Denny, Ralph Dow, Herriete Feldbrugge, Ida Guzzo, Margaret Hall, Joan Mahoney, Florence Harter, Franklin Harter, Greta Herringshaw and Minnie Wezalis received certificates of recognition for their 500 hours of volunteer service.
Service pins were awarded to volunteers with 20 years of service, including Sophia Sokol, Judy Steele and Mary Surace, as well as volunteers with fifteen years of service, including Alice Leskovec, Frank Leskovec, Evelyn Olbrich and Louise Williams.
Ten year service pins were awarded to Joanne Amato, Margaret Averell, Mary Barnard, Patricia Barnard, John Carney, Virginia Carney, Eleanor Catlin, Shirley Herring, Agnes Crim, Joan Dixon, Betty Dow, Ralph Dow, Marie Duffy, Irene Euron, Helen Garlock, Sharon Pardonek, Patricia Herringshaw, June McCarrell, Evelyn McEvoy, Ruth McGraw, Josephine Mead, Betty A. Miller, Jean Neary, Jean Parkhurst, Sharon Perry, Shirley Poirier, Carmelita Sgroi, June Smithson and Dorothy Zaborek. Five year pins were awarded to Herbert Black, I. Laurence Burkert, Betty J. Clark, Millicent Coffin, JoAnne Deller, Dorothy DeMars, Beryl Evans, Donald Giffune, Irene Guske, Harriet Haines, Charlotte Johnson, Linda M. Leonard, Terry Leonard, Paul Lewis, Miriam Marriott, Warren Marriott, Joan Merrick, Stella Morse, Patricia Oldfield, Mildred Piper, Charlotte Price, Angela Richards, Vance Richards, Lydia Sexton, Karin Shannon, Susanne Tecler and Rosemary View.
An award was presented on behalf of Catholic Charities of Herkimer County to the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition for their contributions to the welfare and well being of the residents of Herkimer County by serving as the safety net for emergency feeding programs, as well as an inspiration to volunteers of all ages.
After the luncheon, speeches and awards, volunteers remained to enjoy a slide presentation.
Guests also participated in a 50-50 raffle and door prize drawings.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the State Office for the Aging, the Herkimer County Office for the Aging, the Valley United Way, the Nutrition Consortium of New York State and private donations.