6 Volunteers of Year Honored

Three of the Volunteers of the Year pose with their plaques. From left are: Empire State Division Development Secretary Maj. Ronald Lugiano, Field Representative Rod Ballengee, Ann Gernstl, Ann Russell, Kathy Eisele, and Field Representative Dave Allen.

The Empire State Division is honoring six Service Unit volunteers as 2009 "Trish McVeigh Volunteers of the Year" representing different regions of the 48-county Upstate New York area.

Announced at a September Service Unit seminar at Long Point Camp and Conference Center, the honorees are:

• Greenville resident Connie Bentley, who has been volunteering for the Catskill Service Unit for the past five-and-a-half years. Connie is Family and Community Development Director for Community Action of Greene County.
• Waterville resident Kathy Eisele, long active in the Clinton Service Unit. She is a social worker at Westmoreland Central School.
• Arcade resident Ann Gernstl, who has been volunteering with the Arcade Service Unit since 1999. She is a retired bookkeeper/secretary.
• Trumansburg resident Ann Russell, active with the Trumansburg Service Unit for the past four years. Ann is a retired physical education teacher.
• Lake Placid resident Phil Thayer, long active in the Lake Placid Service Unit. He is owner of Lake Placid Real Estate Inc.
• Potsdam resident Shari Wilcox, who has been volunteering with the Canton Service Unit for over a decade. She is director of the Church and Community Program of the Churches of Canton Inc.

The award is named after a 2007 Volunteer of the Year who died in an automobile accident. A Service Unit is a volunteer committee of The Salvation Army that serves the smaller communities of the 48 Upstate New York counties. Biographical information on each 2009 recipient follows.

"Thanks to Connie Bentley and her committee, the Catskill Service Unit has been able to write vouchers to assist struggling families with immediate needs as well as send children to summer camp," noted Maj. Clyde Jones, field representative. "They also coordinate the Red Kettle Campaign in the Catskill area and promote it with other agencies and groups in the county."

Bently said she started volunteering for The Salvation Army because it "directly ties in to my daily work" at Community Action. "We are the only anti-poverty agency in Greene County, and we help families work toward obtaining self-sufficiency," she said. "The Salvation Army fills in the gaps for many families who need immediate assistance."

She added: "Each time I give someone a voucher, I tell them that 90 percent of the monies raised (during the Red Kettle Campaign) stays within the county. So many people say that is why they will give when they are able to."

Bentley grew up in the Endicott area of Broome County and graduated from SUNY Cortland with a degree in elementary education. She worked at Cornell Cooperative Extension as a 4H agent for many years before coming to Community Action of Greene County. She and her husband Rob, a high school teacher, have been married 24 years and have a 17-year-old son.

"Kathy is active in our Clinton Service Unit, which sends 15 to 20 youngsters to summer camp each year as well as provides holiday assistance," noted Dave Allen, Salvation Army field representative. "The Clinton Service Unit, operated by a committee of volunteers, covers an area extending from Sauquoit to Westmoreland."

As a social worker at Westmoreland Central School, Eisele has been able to recommend children for the summer camp experience, Allen said. "Kathy also has worked with the local Kiwanis Club to put together food and gift baskets at Christmas for needy families."

"I was so excited to visit Long Point Camp for the first time at the Service Unit seminar," Eisele noted. "It is a lovely facility. I can see why the students I've sent to camp want to go year after year. I have sent some very timid children, and the experience of being away from home has built their self-confidence and contributed to their success in school. I have sent some difficult children; they are well-supervised and occupied at camp and do very well there."

Eisele and her husband, Dale, have two grown children. She enjoys music, both listening and playing the flute.

The retired bookkeeper/secretary has been volunteering for the Arcade Service Unit since 1999, serving as treasurer. During that time, she has been able to assist hundreds of families in a variety of ways, including vouchers for the Thrift Store, food, utilities, rent, medical supplies and more.

"Thanks to Ann Gernstl and her small committee, The Salvation Army has been able to assist about 75 families this past year," said Rod Ballengee, field representative for The Salvation Army. "Ann and her husband, Hans, now deceased, have also been very involved in bellringing during the Red Kettle campaign. Last year, her committee and local bellringers raised over $6,500. The money they raise can be used in the community for food, assistance with utilities, sending kids to camp and much more. The local committee determines how the money is used."

Gernstl started volunteering with The Salvation Army through her work with the Christian Community Care Center where she did an internship while she was in college. When the Center closed, she wanted to ensure that services would continue to be provided so she took on the responsibility herself.

Gernstl has seven children, six boys and one girl, and twelve grandchildren. Her husband, Hans, died in 2008.

The retired Physical Education teacher has been volunteering for The Salvation Army's Trumansburg Service Unit for the past four years. During that time, she has been able to assist hundreds of families in the area in a variety of ways, including providing Food Pantry items, school backpacks and supplies, and vouchers for food and other needs.

"Thanks to Ann Russell and her small committee, The Salvation Army has been able to assist about 250 families this past year," said Rick Damore, field representative. "Ann is also very involved in scheduling bellringers during the Red Kettle campaign. Last year, they raised over $10,000. The money they raise can be used in the community for food, assistance with utilities, sending kids to camp and much more. The local committee determines how the money is used."

"Since I am retired, I have some time and I love to share my time and to help others," noted Russell. "I like to be a part of people's lives. I've always been very fortunate and I like to pass some of it on."

Russell is quick to admit that helping the community takes a team effort. "I'd like to thank all the bellringers and Sure Save where they ring the bells. They have helped the people in the community so much. They have been just wonderful. I'd also like to thank Tammy Deam who serves on the Service Unit committee. She writes all the vouchers for us."

Russell has one daughter and son-in-law, Kendra Ann and Hugh Trimm, and an eight-year old grandson, Geoffrey Kenneth. Her husband, Kenneth, died in 1997.

"Phil is a key member of our Lake Placid Service Unit, providing emergency assistance such as food, shelter, clothing, diapers, and utility and rent assistance," noted Maj. Clyde Jones, field representative. "Phil and the Service Unit committee also provide school supplies, and Thankgiving and Christmas baskets to families in need."

The Service Unit works closely with the Ecumenical Charity Program, which runs a food pantry and thrift shop, said Thayer, who began volunteering with The Salvation Army as a holiday bellringer.

"There was a group of men who called themselves the 'Power Pool' that was formed to try and meet some of the community needs for manpower," Thayer said. "...We decided to see about getting involved with The Salvation Army Red Kettle program as a cause which could be embraced. This was in the early '90s, and we have continued the tradition ever since."

"In addition to the many individuals who have manned the kettles for all these years," he added, "we now have strong support from our high school athletic teams, national honor society members, and many students who volunteer on their own. This is a total community effort involving service clubs, Boy Scouts, and a number of local business establishments. Once folks get involved, they tend to stay involved and look forward to this holiday tradition."

Thayer and his wife of 34 years, Claire, have two sons, two daughters and a grandson. A former Air Force captain, Thayer has owned Lake Placid Real Estate Inc. since 1979. He is a member of Adirondack Community Church.

"Shari is active in our Canton Service Unit, coordinating emergency assistance for individuals and families in crisis," noted Rod Ballengee, field representative. "The Service Unit has been able to help people with food, clothing, housing, utilitiy bills and advocacy. Shari also organizes the local Red Kettle Campaign during the holiday season."

Wilcox began volunteering with The Salvation Army over a decade ago, representing the Church and Community Program of the Churches of Canton Inc. As director of the program, which focuses on improving the lives of low-income families, she sees a natural fit with The Salvation Army.

For example, "this past year, with the support of The Salvation Army and McDonald's, we were able to provide boots and winter outerwear to over 300 families," she said. "I truly believe in the goals and work of the Army. Through the Service Unit, we fill unmet needs, provide an understanding ear, and help solve problems through coordinating assistance."

The work wouldn't get done, she said, without the support of the entire Service Unit committee, which also includes Maureen Howard, Connie Nelson, Connie Taylor, and Church and Community Program board members.

She added: "I have enjoyed my time as a Salvation Army Service Unit representative, and truly believe I have received more from this endeavor than I could ever contribute."

Wilcox previously spent over 20 years in the aerospace industry, and has volunteered for many years with the Girl Scouts, Canton Figure Skating Club, and other youth-oriented organizations. She is the mother of a grown daughter and a grown son.