Allamakee County Food Shelf Volunteers receive Governor’s Volunteer Award ...

The volunteers at the Allamakee County Food Shelf in Waukon received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held June 6 in Cedar Falls. Pictured in the photo at right at the award presentation are, left to right, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds; Allamakee County Food Shelf Coordinator Julie Rotach, who nominated the Food Shelf’s group of volunteers; and volunteers Cathy Jurgens and Monica Roderick, who represent the collection of volunteers that Rotach says make all that takes place at the Allamakee County Food Shelf possible, noting that there are about 15 most consistent volunteers who help out during the weekly food distribution efforts every Thursday for those most in need of those services.

More than 600 Governor’s Volunteer Awards were presented this year during five ceremonies across Iowa. It is estimated that more than 150 communities in Iowa were served by this year’s honorees.

“The individuals and groups being recognized today are the people who show up,” Governor Reynolds said. “The people who invest in others and don’t ask for anything in return. Everywhere you look, you can see Iowans dedicating themselves to something greater. It is truly an honor to be able to recognize these individuals for their selfless acts of generosity through the Governor’s Volunteer Awards and inspire others to do the same.”

Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor’s Volunteer Award program - now in its 39th year - provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award. More information, including a complete list of award recipients, is available at volunteeriowa.org. Volunteer Iowa and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa’s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third area of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure. Submitted photo.