Hope Haven honors volunteers

Monday, October 26, 2009
Hope Haven's executive director Christy Menke, left, presents volunteer Delma Klindt with a small gift of appreciation for her tireless efforts at the farm. Klindt was also presented with the gold award for her 2,464.75 volunteer hours and the lifetime volunteer award with more than 6,000 volunteer hours logged at Hope Haven.

COATESVILLE -- "Volunteers are the reasons children (who visit Hope Haven Horse Farm Inc.) have hope," was the message Christy Menke gave the volunteers at Hope Haven.

Menke, executive director of Hope Haven, honored Hope Haven's volunteers Saturday with Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for hours they logged in 2008.

Honorees included Katie Plasters (Bronze for 62.5 hours), Vanessa Thompson (Gold for 139.75 hours), Kayla Kirkpatrick (Gold for 210 hours), Kori Kirkpatrick (Gold for 218.5 hours), Biley Goff (Gold for 283 hours), Colleen Haulk (Gold for 374.75 hours) and Glenda Brickler (Gold for 277 hours), Delma Klindt (Gold for 2,464.75 hours and Lifetime award for more than 6,290 hours) and Menke (Gold for 2,500 hours and Lifetime award for more than 10,000 hours).

The group received a certificate, pin and a letter signed by former President George W. Bush, who created the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003. His idea was "to help recognize valuable contributions volunteers make to the nation," the council's Web site stated.

Hope Haven recognized its volunteers Saturday with President's Volunteer Service awards. Volunteers at Hope Haven include (from left) Eric Rhoden, Ryan Wallace, Vanessa Thompson, Kori Kirkpatrick, Kayla Kirkpatrick, Colleen Haulk, Kara Reeves, Delma Klindt, Glenda Brickler and Kelly Hunt.

The President's Volunteer Service Award is issued by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation on behalf of the President of the United States to "recognize the best in the American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service and civic participation," the site stated.

The council is chaired by two-time Super Bowl champion Darrell Green and is co-chaired by former senators Robert Dole and John Glenn.

The estimated dollar value of volunteer hours is $20.25 for 2008, which is up from 2007 at $19.51.

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