Brian Dickey was honored Thursday night by the Rotary Club of Effingham County as the community’s Volunteer of the Year.
However, he considered it an award for everyone involved in Family Promise of Effingham, which he serves as core leader.
“I’m accepting it on behalf of the 50 to 60 volunteers that made Family Promise possible,” Dickey said. “By myself, I could’ve done nothing.”
Efforts began last year to start an Effingham chapter of Family Promise, a program to help homeless families. Family Promise of Effingham has taken several steps toward opening its doors and, according to organizers, is on target to begin serving families this spring.
Rotary made a $500 contribution to Family Promise for Dickey winning the Herb Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, named for the longtime community philanthropist who presented it to him.
“The biggest honor to me was the fact that it had Herb Jones’ name on it,” Dickey said. “To have my name mentioned in the same sentence as him is a huge honor.”
The first runner-up was Glenn Deaton of Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County’s construction program, and second runner-up was Rincon Elementary School volunteer Jason Malick. Rotary presented checks of $300 and $200, respectively, on behalf of their efforts.
In all, 15 people who give back to the community were honored at the Rotary Club of Effingham County’s annual Volunteer of the Year banquet at the New Ebenezer Retreat Center.
Also recognized were:
Pat Bagley, Manna House Ministries
Margaret Edwards, Effingham Health System
Jean Hartley, Sand Hill Elementary School
Loretta Hinely, Thrivent Financial
Andrea Huff, Effingham Community Orchestra
Ashley Keiffer, Effingham College and Career Academy
Sheila Kitchen, Effingham YMCA
Cynthia Lockwood, Springfield Elementary School
Mary Mistak, Live Oak Public Libraries
James Prill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Louise Sebastian, Marlow Elementary School
Nick Smalley, Guyton Fire Department
“I love seeing all these different ages of volunteers,” said Rotary president Beth Epling. “We could go on and on for two or three days about each person.”
