Cleveland County volunteers recognized for contributions

Rebecca Sitzes, The Shelby Star
·2 min read
A ECA Volunteer Service check presentation to Cleveland County was made during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.
A ECA Volunteer Service check presentation to Cleveland County was made during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.

Over the past two years, volunteers with the Cleveland County Extension and Community Association have collected 235 pounds of soft drink can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, provided school supplies for children in foster care, made more than 300 masks for local health care providers during COVID, promoted health and safety initiatives and supported various other organizations in the county.

Thursday, during a volunteer luncheon, a check was presented to county commissioners totaling $298,100.30 representing the hours of labor put in by the volunteers during 2020 and 2021.

Executive Director of LeGrand Center Jason Falls fills his plate during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.
Executive Director of LeGrand Center Jason Falls fills his plate during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.

“How do you say thank you for $300,000 worth of volunteering?” said Doug Bridges, county commissioner.

Pam Sharts with Cleveland County Hospice, said they were grateful for the masks volunteers made.

“The masks you provided came at the right time,” she said.

The association, which is closely affiliated with the NC Cooperative Extension, used to be called Extension Homemakers, has been operating in Cleveland County since 1915.

The purpose is to empower individuals and families so they can improve their quality of life through education, leadership development and community service.

Greg Traywick received the Excellence in Innovation Award and Pat Farley received the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.
Greg Traywick received the Excellence in Innovation Award and Pat Farley received the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.

There are currently 27 women who are members, and they participate in everything from Alzheimer's education to fraud awareness, and cooking meals for county commissioner meetings and promoting hazardous waste day and prescription drop box programs.

Their work has touched thousands of lives.

Greg Traywick was presented with an innovation award for his agricultural economic work and success in securing grants.

Pat Farley was presented with a Governor’s Volunteer Award for the many hours of work she has done with the association.

“She models life and generosity and zest for living,” said Traywick, Cleveland County Extension director.

Farley has been volunteering for 25 years.

"As a retired nurse, I enjoy serving my community to help make life better for others," she said. "I learned as a small child to enjoy being of service to folks' needs."

Les Dixon and Meriel Peeler were awarded outstanding volunteers for 2020 and 2021.

Nancy Abasiekong and Pat Farley look over one of many displays during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.
Nancy Abasiekong and Pat Farley look over one of many displays during the Cleveland County Extension & Community Association Achievement Luncheon held Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the NC Cooperative Extension Center in Shelby.

This year is the year of the bee, and volunteers are trying to promote and encourage people to create habitats for bees and other pollinators. They had a beekeeper give a talk about bee keeping, and they learned to make seed bombs and bee houses.

Cathy Holmes, North Carolina Extension and Community Association president,  said the past two years presented unique challenges as a result of COVID, but it didn’t stop volunteers from making a positive difference in their communities.

“You found ways to keep going despite COVID,” Holmes said. “Volunteers don’t get paid, it comes from the heart.”

Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Cleveland County volunteers make a big impact