People You Should Know Making a Difference in our Community

The Association of Community Services of Howard County has announced their winners of the Audrey Robbins Awards for 2011 to be given at the Awards Luncheon on June 15^th. The winners are people you should know and I have even blogged on two of the winners.

Volunteer of the Year: Don Bard, Lazarus Foundation. Don is someone I have know for many years and have had the pleasure of seeing how this Foundation, which rebuilds and recycles computers and equipment, has grown. The Foundation has provided computers to many county groups. I have been able to supply many grandparents raising their grandchildren with computers through this Foundation. Don has some of the most dedicated volunteers that have worked with him for many years. To meet Don and see his dedication you know why others are so dedicated this effort.

Employee of the Year: Barbara Coleman, Legal Aid Bureau. Legal Aid has been one of agencies that people without access to regular legal services have come to depend on. I know that when I worked with the Office on Aging we referred many senior citizens to Legal Aid for help with all types of legal issues. Barbara has been the person handling these cases in Howard County for many years.

Volunteer Team of the Year: Neighbor Ride. As a Neighbor Ride volunteer for the past few years I have seen first hand how this transportation service has been so valuable to older persons who are no longer able to drive. Having a reliable means of getting to important medical appointments, to go shopping or just to visit friends is so important in their sense of independence. Over 200 volunteers provide thousands of trips each year.

Employee Team of the Year: makingChange. I have had the opportunity to get to know Michelle Glassburn and the work of the makingChange program only in this past year but I have been so impressed with the dedication and efforts of this team of professionals. When I was looking for a program that could help with financial literacy for youth in foster care this past year everyone I talked to referred me to Michelle and this program. In meeting Michelle I quickly knew that I had found the right person to assist the foster youth. What I quickly came to admire was that when Michelle said she was going to do something--- she did it and delivered more than you expected.

P.S.

Interesting story in the Columbia Patch today about a contest for teens being sponsored by Howard County Parks and Rec. HC Parks and Rec is one of those assets of Howard County that we should all appreciate. Kudos to them.

Burger fanatics have good news on another place to try soon from a HowChow post