United Way Honors Local Volunteers

The Rappahannock United Way recognized Rev. Lawrence A. Davies with the Live United Award at a recent event to honor local volunteers for National Volunteer Week.

The award given to Davies, the now retired pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church Old Site and past mayor of Fredericksburg, is for those who exemplify service to the community. Davies helped to establish the city's first low-income housing and oversaw the development of a public transportation system in Fredericksburg when he was mayor. Davies founded Citizens United for Action, a group dedicated to the advancement of civic activism, racial tolerance and voter education.  When his family was impacted by sickle cell anemia, he and his wife helped bring attention to the disease by creating a local organization to raise money and awareness.

Other award winners include Becky Paul, Maynard Clipper, Charlene Kozlowski, CVS Fredericksburg Distribution Center, the Rappahannock Area YMCA, and Rehabilitative Services and Vocational Placement, Inc. Becky Paul, Maynard Clipper, and Charlene Kozlowski received were honored with the Best Adult, Best Senior, and Best Youth Volunteer Live United Awards, respectively.

For the past four years, Paul has been the co-chair of School Dressing Days, an annual initiative through the Interfaith Council that provides back to school clothes for children in need in our area.  In 2011, School Dressing Days clothed 16,000 children. 

Clipper supports clients at the Thurman Brisben Center by paying for all of their prescription needs—out of his own pocket. These prescriptions can cost anywhere from $10 to $200. 

Kozlowski began attending water aerobics classes for her own physical therapy but soon became a volunteer, helping children with intellectual and physical disabilities during their water classes. During the past year, she gave 180 hours of time to help 75 children each week.

CVS Fredericksburg Distribution Center, the Rappahannock Area YMCA, Inc., and Rehabilitative Services and Placement Program, Inc. (RSVP) won the Best Business, Best Agency, and Best Group Live United Awards, respectively. 

From September to December 2011, the associates of CVS Fredericksburg Distribution Center volunteered their services 10 times to local agencies. They participated in Days of Caring in both Fredericksburg and King George; prepared lunch and played bingo with seniors; assisted with Bragg Hill’s Santa Day; and served a Christmas meal to seniors at the Fredericksburg Meal Center. In addition to their time, associates donated food items and holiday baskets to Hope House and Thurman Brisben Center and gave hundreds of toys to be distributed to local children during the holiday season.

Last year, the Rappahannock Area YMCA provided almost 800 adults with intellectual and physical disabilities the opportunity to participate in activities through the Y’s Special Needs Program. It participating in numerous activities throughout the year, including Toys for Tots, providing free summer camp and transportation to low-income children, and raising money for families, seniors, and individuals in need of financial assistance. Last year, this agency served more than 23,000 people and provided financial assistance and subsides totaling more than $1.1 million. 

Since 2004, RSVP has been volunteering at the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank an average of 1,000 hours per year. This group of volunteers is part of a program that works with individuals with disabilities to help them reach their vocational potential and work towards independence and an improved quality of life.  Every Monday morning, for 4 1/2 hours, this group sorts through donated items and makes sure that the items uphold the Food Bank standards. Two of the group members, Judy and Carol, have been volunteering at the Food Bank for eight years.