VISTO recognizes dedicated volunteers

April 29--GAINESVILLE _ Charlene Meek received Volunteers in Service to Others (VISTO) Volunteer of the Year award during the annual volunteer luncheon held Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Gainesville.

Charlene Meek donated 159 hours last year to assist VISTO with food distribution for the food-insecure of Cooke County.

"It means a lot to me that she won this award," VISTO volunteer coordinator Suzanne Yeager said. "I've worked with her pretty closely at the VISTO community garden, the post office food drive and can't thank her enough for all the hours she has donated.

Also recognized for their contributions were volunteer award recipients Callisburg Church of Christ, Cooke County United Way, First United Methodist Church, the Infant of Prague and Saint Joseph Monastery, Noah's Ark, USPS Letter Carriers, Whaley United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, Community Supervision and Corrections Department, Gainesville Fire Fighters, Lake Kiowa Chapel, Petroflex, NA and Wal-Mart #185. These individuals and organizations contributed $10,000 or more in combined value.

"You have fed so many throughout the county," VISTO executive director Michelle Baldwin said. "Thank you."

Approximately 250 VISTO volunteers and donors assisted 12,486 Cooke County residents last year. They donated 4,306 hours valued at $93,828 that included 90,935 pounds of food valued at $220,608.

Recognized as Partners in Service donating and contributing 1,000 pounds or more or $1,000 or more in-kind value were Arnold and Sharron Acker, Robert and Barbara Bloom, Chief Oil & Gas, Encompass Cares, First Presbyterian Church, Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, John Lark, Bob and Joyce Manner, North Central Texas College, Relay for Life, Saint Peter's Catholic Church, Sivell's Bend United Methodist Church, WW Howeth, B-29 Investments, Michaele Ann Bryson, M.Ed, LPC, Era United Methodist Church, Food for Families, Gainesville Optimist Club, Hillcrest Church of Christ, Wanda Lawrence, Marilyn Melton, Hugh & Marcia Porter, Rosston Baptist Church, Salvation Army, Starbucks, Rebekah Wilson, Bearhead Baptist Church, Jeffrey Clancy, Cross Timbers Church, First Baptist Church Gainesville, Thomas and Linda Ford, Glenn Polk Autoplex, Don and Sandra Jones, Lindsay Elementary, Ken and Juile Minter, Prairie Point Church of the Nazarine, RWI, Mark and Lynette Scruggs, Richard Stark, Dr. Cheryl Wrinkle, John and Darlene Beck, June Cloud, Danny Hines, Farmer's Insurance, First Baptist Church Valley View, Gainesville Antique Car Club, Helping Hands of Faith, Rodney Lacy, Luther and Carol Maners, Mr. and Mrs. Ned Newman, Carl and Sandra Ploeger, Saint Mary's Catholic Church and School, Site Safe Solutions, Tom Thumb, John A. Woods.

Volunteers contributing 40 hours or more were Cathy Baskett, Dwayne Burgess, Daryl Clark, First Baptist Church of Valley View, Al Hill, Jimmy Meek, Marsha Seeber, Bob Bloom, Marvin Burgess, Madison Clark, Don Fox, Kelly Lane, Nathan Newton, Sivell's Bend UMC and J.J. Walls.

Top five contributors in each category includes Wal-Mart, 12,600 pounds; Gainesville Firefighters, 10,155 pounds, U.S. Postal Workers, 8,245 pounds; Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 4,349 pounds; and Tom Thumb, 3,218.

Top five contributors in dollars includes Cooke County United Way, Lake Kiowa Chapel, First United Methodist Church, Helping Hands of Faith and First Christian Church.

Top five in kind contributors includes Petroflex N.A., CServ Foundation, Weekly News of Cooke County, Create Ad Agency, and Salvation Army Gainesville Unit.

VISTO board of directors includes president Mark Loewen, vice-president Keith King, treasurer Marilyn Melton, secretary Pam Nickerson, member at large Vince Pawless, and members David Gehr, Glen Kersey, Lucy Sutton, Michaele Ann Bryson, Phyllis Griffin, Scott Davis, Scott Sundbye, Shane Lee and Sharron Acker. Ex officio Bob Manner, Chad Shauf, Don Yeager, June Cloud, Ned Newman and Sharon Dill.

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