Diverse group of outstanding volunteers in Forsyth County are recognized

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 14, 2020

WINSTON-SALEM — Recently, HandsOn Northwest North Carolina, in partnership with the United Way of Forsyth County, Salem College, and the Winston-Salem Journal presented the 2020 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards to 15 recipients from across Forsyth County. HandsOn, whose mission is to mobilize people and organizations that inspire community change, presented the awards via a live event on its Facebook page. Katherine Caster emceed the event and represented Novant Health, the premier sponsor of the awards. Caster is a member of Novant’s Social Responsibility Team and is a HandsOn board member. Winners were selected by a volunteer committee from a diverse pool of nearly 30 nominees.

Award recipients are: Jim Matthews (animals); Hesta Anderson (cultural); Amanda Enloe (disaster); Bruce Gavett (environment); Elevation Church (faith-based); Dr. Ray and Lynn Clarke (family); Speas Parent Teacher Association (group/team); Kathy Kovack (health and human services); Jim Carros (individual); Leila Warren (lifetime achievement); Casey Capstick (national service); Madeline Culver (perseverance in volunteerism); Lacy ‘Ben’ Miller (senior); Najashi ‘Shi’ Belcher (serving youth); Sarina Horner (youth). The People’s Choice Award winner, chosen from among all of the nominees by voters at JournalNow.com, was Lacy ‘Ben’ Miller, marking only the second time in the history of the People’s Choice Award that a category winner was chosen.

These volunteers give their time to a variety of organizations. Jim Matthews is like family to the students, staff, and horses he works with multiple times a week at Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center. Hesta Anderson has been connecting her neighbors to books for more than a decade through her work at the Friends of the Reynolda Manor Library. Amanda Enloe leads a Disaster Action Team through the American Red Cross that responds to fires and storms that have displaced families. Bruce Gavett is a volunteer that is truly “out of this world,” as he has been volunteering with Kaleideum’s (formerly SciWork’s) Planetarium for the last 10 years. at Helping Hands Ministry. Elevation Church was recognized for their unwavering support of the SECU Family House, while Dr. Ray and Lynn Clarke were recognized for their dedication to education and children, particularly at The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs. The Speas PTA supports classroom instruction, social connection, and has even spearheaded the construction of two new playgrounds for Speas Global Elementary School. Kathy Kovack serves as a one woman force to be reckoned with for Clemmons Food Pantry, while Jim Carros doesn’t hesitate to step into multiple leadership roles at Big Brothers Big Sisters Services. Leila Warren has dedicated over half of her life to the just and humane treatment of animals, particularly when it comes to the work she has done by establishing the Humane Solution Spay-Neuter Program. Casey Capstick was recognized for her dedication to service above and beyond her role as an AmeriCorps VISTA at ABC of NC, while Madeline Culver works to ensure that every partner agency of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC has the food and necessary supplies that they need to distribute to their clients. Lacy ‘Ben’ Miller makes sure that every student, no matter their circumstances, leaves Sedge Garden Elementary School feeling much better than when they entered. Najashi ‘Shi’ Belcher was recognized for his leadership within and advocacy for the Crosby Scholars program, while, similarly, Sarina Horner focuses on engaging and mobilizing young students like herself to serve and create solutions for causes they care about.