Stephens honored for her work with county Coalition for Families

By CHUCK BANDEL

Valley Press

Volunteerism is making a difference in Sanders County.

For those who donate their time and skills helping others through the Sanders County Coalition for Families, their caring about others is not going without notice.

Recently, six of the many volunteers with the coalition received prestigious recognition from The President’s Volunteer Service Award organization for their community outreach efforts. The awards are part of the Points of Light program begun by former President George H. W. Bush.

Heading the award list is Plains resident Judy Stephens, who was awarded a gold medal and received a certificate signed by President Donald Trump in recognition of the 780 volunteer hours she has contributed to the SCCF’s helpline.

Two other volunteers, Doris Larson of Plains, and Jolia Buchanan of Thompson Falls, were awarded bronze medals for their 100-plus hours of service.

In a statement released through the coalition, Joyce Reeser of Thompson Falls said, “I’ve been making quilts for those in need for over 25 years,” she said. “Donating my time and the quilts is all worth it if it makes a difference to a child in need”.

That sentiment is prevalent in the Thompson Falls-based volunteer agency, according to Coalition Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Crystal Buchanan.

“There is a need for help and there are people who care,” Buchanan said. “The entire volunteer program over a years span typically involves around 90 individuals."

Among those services is an emergency shelter to help those in need of a place to stay during troubling times, food bank-like collection and distribution, clothing, volunteer made towels and pillow cases, toys for the kids and a place where those seeking shelter from abuse and other situations can feel comfortable as they tackle the problems they face.

“Everything we do is confidential,” Buchanan said. “We are here to help people in need. We try to do as many outreach visits into the community as we can to let people know we are here to help in their time of need.”

Part of those efforts involves finding and providing training to the volunteers who step forward to help, she said.

“We are always working to go out and speak to groups and let them know who we are and what we can do,” she added. “We also try to let younger folks know about the benefits of volunteering, what it takes and what they can learn from it”.

The wide range of volunteers has included artists who create and donate their works to brighten shelter areas, inmates from state prison facilities who in the past have built and donated toys, and in one case a high school student who made a picnic table with guidance from the shop teacher.

“We had individuals in a local shop class who wanted to do something to help and came up with the idea of building us a picnic table for use by those we help,” Buchanan said. “There is also a lady whose job requires her to travel frequently and whenever she stays in a motel she collects and donates the unused soap and shampoo supplies from the motel room.”

Buchanan said those wishing to volunteer are trained according to the area of help for which they wish to participate. Working with children, for example, requires more training than other means of helping out and requires a background check.

Fortunately, Buchanan said, there is almost always a good supply of volunteers in Sanders County.

“We contact people who have volunteered in the past and ask if they can help out again,” she said. “They almost all say yes right away!”

Those interested in helping the Coalition’s community efforts can call 827-3218.