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A lifetime volunteer
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| Don Meyer listens as Mayor Sam Lindsey reads a letter from the City of Willcox recognizing Meyer's years of service, especially to the Willcox Community Food Pantry, during a recent celebration at Trinity Lutheran Church. (Carol Broeder/ARN) |
Don Meyer receives Governor's Volunteer Service Award and a local day of appreciation
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
Don Meyer of Willcox will receive the Governor's Volunteer Service Award at the end of this month.
Meyer's daughter, Marchelle Perry, who had nominated him for the honor, received a notification letter on Friday, she told the Range News.
The mission of these awards is "to build an ethic of service and volunteerism by working in partnership with public, private, local and statewide organizations to recognize volunteer efforts that strengthen communities and improve quality of life for Arizonans," according to Amanda Scott Thomas with the Governor's Office.
The awards were established to recognize and thank Arizonans throughout the state "who have given their time and talents to help solve social problems."
Panels of statewide judges select recipients based on the criteria of need, action, innovation, and impact.
Ten recipients are honored each year with the award, considered to be the highest volunteer award in the state of Arizona.
One award is given each year in each category.
Those categories are youth, youth groups, adult groups, service-learning practitioners, National Service members, small businesses and large businesses, and "a lifetime volunteer who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to service in Arizona are eligible to be nominated."
Meyer is being honored in the lifetime achievement category, said Perry. He will receive the award on April 29 at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Back in Willcox, a "Don Meyer Appreciation Day" celebration was held at Trinity Lutheran Church last recently.
Nearly 20 members of the Meyer family showed up, along with Willcox-area residents and Mayor Sam Lindsey, who read a letter to Meyer, who retired from the Willcox Food Pantry in December.
"We are pleased to honor you today for the many contributions you have made and continue to make to Willcox," he said.
"The Willcox Food Pantry has been in service to the citizens of Willcox for nearly three decades," said Lindsey, adding that Janie Johnston operated a food bank out of the Community Center, at which Meyer volunteered for several years.
Then in 1981, Johnston, Betty Zewerink and Meyer's wife, Ginny Meyer, organized the Food Pantry, said Lindsey. Meyer volunteered there until he became its president in 1982.
"At the Food Pantry, you were a jack of all trades and took care of whatever needed to be done," Lindsey said.
"You negotiated with the food suppliers and vendors, picked up the food and unloaded trucks, handled food distribution, and kept track of the money. The Food Pantry supplied all new merchandise to the people that it served and the food was of high quality."
Meyer is "proud to say that the Food Pantry has never turned anyone away. It also has never had a fund drive. When times were hard, you asked the community for help and it came," Lindsey said.
Many organizations and individuals contributed to the pantry over the years, he said.
"Although it is impossible to name every person and organization that helped, you mentioned several that did," said Lindsey, naming the United State Post Office, the employee organization at AEPCO, and the Willcox schools.
"Many of the service organizations in Willcox took an active interest in the Food Pantry, including the Emblem Club, the Elks Lodge #2131, the Willcox Cowbelles, the Kiwanis Club, the two sororities, and the Lions Clubs," he said.
"The Food Pantry was the main service project for the Lions. In addition, the Lutheran Church made it a line item on its budget for several years, and the Methodist Church was active, as well."
Meyer had asked that special recognition be given to Louise Moser, the coordinator of the Food Pantry for 10 years.
Moser "was involved with establishing the Stewart Homemakers as well," said Lindsey, adding that she "contributed many years of dedicated service to the Food Pantry and is a valued part of its success."
Meyer also wanted to recognize Nellie Aguilar, who was coordinator for 15 years after Johnston left until Moser took over, he told the Range News.
"In 2008, the needs of the Food Pantry were many, and it was in dire straits," Lindsey said.
"You put a notice in the newspaper and said that the support from the community felt like Christmas. Help came flowing in."
When Meyer retired from the Food Pantry in late December 2008, Meyer was "proud to have the shelves stocked with food and money in the bank for your successor," said Lindsey, adding that the new president is Nell Collins Worden, a Willcox native.
"Nell is bringing many years of experience to the position and plans to keep the Food Pantry active and an important part of the community," said the mayor.
"Especially with our present economic times, it will continue to be a vital link in the health and welfare of our citizens," he said.
Lindsey also mentioned that Meyer gave more than 15 years of service as a volunteer at the Amerind Museum in Dragoon. Meyer also served as president of the Holos Lions Club in Willcox, and also worked several years at the Lions' Camp Tatiyee for the disabled, he said.
"Now that you have retired from the Food Pantry and have some 'spare time,' you are continuing to serve the community by volunteering at the Rex Allen Museum two days a week," Lindsey said.
"Your continued dedication to the Willcox community as a volunteer and tireless supporter is invaluable," he said.
"We can't thank you enough."
Meyer had asked that Lindsey express "sincere thanks to the community. Without them, the Food Pantry couldn't have happened," said Lindsey, adding that Meyer appreciated "the many hours the volunteer employees of the Food Pantry invested to keep it going through good times and bad."
"In the midst of your many projects, you raised a loving and caring family, and all of them are here today to join with us in celebrating with you," said the mayor.
"We are proud and honored to have you as a part of our community, and thankful for your exemplary service," Lindsey said.
Meyer re-iterated his thanks to the volunteers and the community.
"Thank you all so much," he said. "Maybe I drove the engine, but they pushed the train. It wouldn't have happened without you."
"The family appreciates the community support," said Perry, one of the organizer's of the celebration. "We had a lovely time - I thought."
"We hope he is able to continue to volunteer as he is doing at the museum," said Perry.
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
Don Meyer of Willcox will receive the Governor's Volunteer Service Award at the end of this month.
Meyer's daughter, Marchelle Perry, who had nominated him for the honor, received a notification letter on Friday, she told the Range News.
The mission of these awards is "to build an ethic of service and volunteerism by working in partnership with public, private, local and statewide organizations to recognize volunteer efforts that strengthen communities and improve quality of life for Arizonans," according to Amanda Scott Thomas with the Governor's Office.
The awards were established to recognize and thank Arizonans throughout the state "who have given their time and talents to help solve social problems."
Panels of statewide judges select recipients based on the criteria of need, action, innovation, and impact.
Ten recipients are honored each year with the award, considered to be the highest volunteer award in the state of Arizona.
One award is given each year in each category.
Those categories are youth, youth groups, adult groups, service-learning practitioners, National Service members, small businesses and large businesses, and "a lifetime volunteer who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to service in Arizona are eligible to be nominated."
Meyer is being honored in the lifetime achievement category, said Perry. He will receive the award on April 29 at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Back in Willcox, a "Don Meyer Appreciation Day" celebration was held at Trinity Lutheran Church last recently.
Nearly 20 members of the Meyer family showed up, along with Willcox-area residents and Mayor Sam Lindsey, who read a letter to Meyer, who retired from the Willcox Food Pantry in December.
"We are pleased to honor you today for the many contributions you have made and continue to make to Willcox," he said.
"The Willcox Food Pantry has been in service to the citizens of Willcox for nearly three decades," said Lindsey, adding that Janie Johnston operated a food bank out of the Community Center, at which Meyer volunteered for several years.
Then in 1981, Johnston, Betty Zewerink and Meyer's wife, Ginny Meyer, organized the Food Pantry, said Lindsey. Meyer volunteered there until he became its president in 1982.
"At the Food Pantry, you were a jack of all trades and took care of whatever needed to be done," Lindsey said.
"You negotiated with the food suppliers and vendors, picked up the food and unloaded trucks, handled food distribution, and kept track of the money. The Food Pantry supplied all new merchandise to the people that it served and the food was of high quality."
Meyer is "proud to say that the Food Pantry has never turned anyone away. It also has never had a fund drive. When times were hard, you asked the community for help and it came," Lindsey said.
Many organizations and individuals contributed to the pantry over the years, he said.
"Although it is impossible to name every person and organization that helped, you mentioned several that did," said Lindsey, naming the United State Post Office, the employee organization at AEPCO, and the Willcox schools.
"Many of the service organizations in Willcox took an active interest in the Food Pantry, including the Emblem Club, the Elks Lodge #2131, the Willcox Cowbelles, the Kiwanis Club, the two sororities, and the Lions Clubs," he said.
"The Food Pantry was the main service project for the Lions. In addition, the Lutheran Church made it a line item on its budget for several years, and the Methodist Church was active, as well."
Meyer had asked that special recognition be given to Louise Moser, the coordinator of the Food Pantry for 10 years.
Moser "was involved with establishing the Stewart Homemakers as well," said Lindsey, adding that she "contributed many years of dedicated service to the Food Pantry and is a valued part of its success."
Meyer also wanted to recognize Nellie Aguilar, who was coordinator for 15 years after Johnston left until Moser took over, he told the Range News.
"In 2008, the needs of the Food Pantry were many, and it was in dire straits," Lindsey said.
"You put a notice in the newspaper and said that the support from the community felt like Christmas. Help came flowing in."
When Meyer retired from the Food Pantry in late December 2008, Meyer was "proud to have the shelves stocked with food and money in the bank for your successor," said Lindsey, adding that the new president is Nell Collins Worden, a Willcox native.
"Nell is bringing many years of experience to the position and plans to keep the Food Pantry active and an important part of the community," said the mayor.
"Especially with our present economic times, it will continue to be a vital link in the health and welfare of our citizens," he said.
Lindsey also mentioned that Meyer gave more than 15 years of service as a volunteer at the Amerind Museum in Dragoon. Meyer also served as president of the Holos Lions Club in Willcox, and also worked several years at the Lions' Camp Tatiyee for the disabled, he said.
"Now that you have retired from the Food Pantry and have some 'spare time,' you are continuing to serve the community by volunteering at the Rex Allen Museum two days a week," Lindsey said.
"Your continued dedication to the Willcox community as a volunteer and tireless supporter is invaluable," he said.
"We can't thank you enough."
Meyer had asked that Lindsey express "sincere thanks to the community. Without them, the Food Pantry couldn't have happened," said Lindsey, adding that Meyer appreciated "the many hours the volunteer employees of the Food Pantry invested to keep it going through good times and bad."
"In the midst of your many projects, you raised a loving and caring family, and all of them are here today to join with us in celebrating with you," said the mayor.
"We are proud and honored to have you as a part of our community, and thankful for your exemplary service," Lindsey said.
Meyer re-iterated his thanks to the volunteers and the community.
"Thank you all so much," he said. "Maybe I drove the engine, but they pushed the train. It wouldn't have happened without you."
"The family appreciates the community support," said Perry, one of the organizer's of the celebration. "We had a lovely time - I thought."
"We hope he is able to continue to volunteer as he is doing at the museum," said Perry.
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