Derrick Rawls, 15, was named the volunteer of the year for the Meldrim Community Service Program.

The Meldrim Community Service Program is a program to benefit seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Meldrim community that are in need of assistance. This program is possible with the cooperation and approval of the Effingham County State Court and the Effingham County Probation Office.

The program now receives community service workers from Effingham, Bryan, Bulloch and Chatham counties.

The program had another record year, according to Stephen Newsome, performing a total of 4,059 hours of service and donating a power chair to one family.

Newsome, the president of the Meldrim Civic Club, rewarded Rawls and his friends by taking them out to dinner, followed by a trip to Frames and Games and then to the Effingham County-South Effingham high school basketball games.