Virginia Kane nominees and appreciation gala
The Virginia Kane Hall of Fame is given to Tuscarawas County residents age 50 or older who have made a significant contribution to the community by volunteering.
The Tuscarawas County Senior Center will hold its Virginia Kane Hall of Fame and Volunteer Appreciation Gala on Friday, Oct. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gala will include lunch, door prizes and the announcement of the recipient of the award.
The award is given to Tuscarawas County residents age 50 or older who have made a significant contribution to the community by volunteering.
“Because the event had to be canceled last year, we are combining last year’s nomination with this year’s,” said Vicki Yates, director of activities at the center.
Yates said people at each senior center location will be able to view the event on a monitor. Rick Michel will provide music during lunch. The top volunteers from each senior center location also will be recognized.
Tickets are limited and are $10 each. They can be purchased at any senior center location. All COVID-19 precautions will be followed.
Nominees
Dave and Becky Baker were nominated by Kathy Willoughby. The couple volunteered at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in the gift shop and mailroom, at the information desk, and as advisors to improve patient care in the gift shop, mailroom and at the info desk. Becky Baker also has volunteered in the volunteer office at Dover Alliance Church and at the Tusc Senior Center.
Rev. Mark Unru was nominated by Sharon Chambers. Unru has volunteered at Trinity Hospital Twin City for 30 years as a chaplain, at the hospital’s foundation as treasurer, at Claymont High School as a guest counselor, and at the Salvation Army and other organizations.
Betty Lou Honaker was nominated by Peggy Robb of the Dover Senior Center. An original member of the New Philadelphia Friends of the Library, Honaker volunteers at the library, helping with inventory, preparing audio and media materials, assisting at the annual Friends’ book sale and more. She also established a reading program providing a book to every baby born in the county. Other volunteer activities include 4-H, Tuscarawas County College Club, the Tuscarawas County Senior Center and others.
Donna Vermillion was nominated by Jane Clay. A 60-year volunteer at Park Christian Church, Vermillion has helped serve funeral dinners, provided cheer baskets to those in need, packed backpacks for the homeless and played a large role in Phoebe’s Friends, a group serving the surrounding community.
Deb Bush was nominated by Fred Dickson. Bush has volunteered as treasurer, Vacation Bible School teacher and spaghetti dinner cook at Calvary United Methodist Church. She also organized local Girl Scout cookie sales and served as choir director and VBS teacher at the Valley View Baptist Church.
Diana Culler was nominated by Donna Stanker. A 17-year volunteer at Bolivar Methodist Church, Culler has managed the Soup’s On program and helped with the food pantry, prayer visits and projects for the church’s women’s group.
Brenda Rieger of New Philadelphia was nominated by Ken Robb. Rieger has volunteered for Hospice Browse and Buy, The Wilderness Center, Historic Schoenbrunn Village’s production of “Sleepy Hollow,” Historic Zoar Village, and at a food bank.
Mary Jane John was nominated by county commissioner Chris Abbuhl. In addition to volunteering for 29 years at the Norma Johnson Center, John has volunteered for the Farm Bureau, Emmanuel Lutheran Church and the Tuscarawas County Pork Producers, where you’ll find her working in the food trailer during fair week.
Kathryn Sherer was nominated by Cherie Wetzel. Sherer has volunteered at Tuscarawas Avenue Elementary as a teacher’s aide, for the Mineral City American Legion, the Retired/Senior Volunteer program, the Loyal Christian Benefit Association and Sacred Heart Church.
Jim Davidson was nominated by NewPointe Community Church. Davidson’s volunteer activities include Dollywood Church, Sugarcreek Free Methodist Church, NewPointe, and in his neighborhood helping others with mowing, getting groceries, house-sitting and more.
Mark McKenzie was nominated by Sarah Gwyer. McKenzie is the co-founder of the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market, has been both employed by and a volunteer for Community Hospice for 27 years, and has been a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters for four years.