Four Valleys Community School hosts a Volunteer BBQ every year to honor and celebrate the volunteers that contribute to not only our organization, but all the local non-profits. We also gather to recognize two individuals to receive a Community Service Award as voted on by all the past recipients of the award.
2011-12 Community Service Awards were presented to two long term Girdwood residents Sheila DeNuptiis and Rorie Hammel. Below are their nominations as submitted anonymously to FVCS by local residents:
Sheila DeNuptiis is a very giving, hardworking and sincere hearted lady who goes above and beyond for this community. Sheila will tell you that she as some “assistants” running the food pantry in Girdwood. However, that is being modest; she has almost single-handedly made sure that 20-30 households (including lots of children) per month are getting food. She shops, organizes, advertises, and distributes the food. She is even on the “road-kill” list-she will pick up a dead moose, take it home to clean, and package up the meat and donate it to the Girdwood Food Bank. Sheila put in years of service volunteering at the Girdwood K-8 School, and especially with the school ski program. She implemented the Community Garden, and continues to direct it. She has been very active with the Girdwood Chapel, donating countless hours during construction of the new building, and most recently as the Church Treasurer. Sheila is helping the folks who are new to the community and struggling to make ends meet, or are passing through- the people who are not necessarily the people nominating this award.It is time to recognize Sheila’s efforts.
Rorie Hammel was the Girdwood School Nurse for many years, and in the 12 years since she served in that capacity she has remained involved in community activities in a quiet and behind-the-scenes way. She has assisted with the Rotary Interact Club, South High PTA, and Girdwood Health Fairs. Most notably, she has served on the Four Valleys Community School Board for years, keeping her connection to the families in and around the school and the larger community. She pretty much single-handedly shops, preps and puts on the annual Volunteer BBQ, recruits and assigns almost 100 volunteers for the annual Sports Swap, ans assists with all other FVCS fundraisers and activities. She is an active member of the Glacier Valley Quilters, who donate their time to make beautiful quilts that are then donated to other community organizations to be raffled off. It is humble volunteers like Rorie who deserve to be recognized for they are the glue that holds things together when others are not looking.
The 2012 Volunteer BBQ was held the evening of Sunday, September 9th at the Challenge Alaska building. We had a beautiful sunny day, and over 100 local residents attended the event. Looking forward to next years BBQ!
