Starke County Community Services recognized several local residents and organizations during a volunteer recognition luncheon Thursday.
During the event, Community Services staff member Rhonda Overmyer announced the winner of the Community Services Senior Volunteer of the Year Award. “Today, we come together as one voice to honor and lift up this incredible woman,” Overmyer said, “a woman who has worked her whole life to tend to the needs of others, a woman committed to treating those in need with dignity and respect, a woman who possesses the ability to show brotherly and sisterly love to the unlovable, a woman whose name is Doloras Dan.” Following her retirement from Smith Farm Store in 2008, Dan has been involved with many local organizations, including Starke County Community Services since 2011.
Meanwhile, Community Services Board Secretary Mark Rippy honored Lori Dunning with the Community Volunteer of the Year Award. “Starke County is blessed to have Lori Dunning,” Rippy said. “Lori’s a seasoned volunteer at Community Services of Starke County and is the program coordinator for Hope for the Holidays Christmas program. Originally initiated by former executive director Joan Haugh, Lori has taken the reins and works full-time each year to help ensure the less fortunate children of Starke County are provided for on Christmas morning.”
The program typically serves over 500 people a year.
