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ATLANTA--The St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) of St. Ann’s
Church in Marietta has been honored with a JCPenney Golden Rule Award
for outstanding volunteer service to the community.
The 17th annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon sponsored by JCPenney
Co. and United Way was held April 30 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
WSB-TV anchor Monica Kaufman recognized the 1998 recipients, including
54 individuals, eight families, nine educational winners, four youth
and 12 groups.
St. Ann’s SVDP conference was one of three finalists in the
group category for the Volunteer of the Year award.
Cobb Senior Services of Marietta nominated the SVDP conference in
recognition of its Adopt-a-Family Program. Through this program,
started in 1981, parishioners are matched with families in need at
Christmas and provide them with food, clothing, household items, gifts
and toys. The program began under Sally Chrow, then SVDP president,
and has continued under the leadership of Kathy Mawn, assisted by
Eleanor Dudek. Planning begins in August each year.
Last Christmas over 900 St. Ann’s parishioners and others
adopted families from Cobb Senior Services, St. Ann’s, the
Sullivan Center, Atlanta, Banks and Jackson counties, Bean Creek, Ga.,
and other areas. Over $100,000 in food, clothing and gifts were
distributed, including 450 coats. St. Ann’s, which has 50 Society
members, in 1997 adopted 210 families and, after collecting donations,
delivered gifts to their homes.
Cobb Senior Services nomination letter stated, “St. Vincent de
Paul of St. Ann deserves the Golden Rule Award because they recognize
the enormous difficulties, the losses and the courage the poor
encounter. They are truly sensitive and compassionate to their needs.
But more importantly, they bring dignity and pleasure to these
individuals, old and young, who have so little.”
The conference also runs a food pantry and collects car donations.
The Golden Rule Award honors the service tradition established by
James Penney, who opened his first store, “The Golden Rule,”
in 1902 and told his associates and managers to be guided by that rule
in business and in the community. |
