I'm not the chair of a community board. I haven't created a non-profit. You will not find my name on any plaques or awards, but I feel as though I serve my community well. I am not a conventional community servant. I serve my community best one on one. In my household of four, my children are never surprised when I need to run out the door to visit a grieving mother. My supporting husband always smiles and nods in agreement whenever I tell him I provided dinner for a family whose mother is suffering through chemotherapy. We've helped so many over the years that I decided to open a savings account just to help others. When Jesus told us to "love our neighbors as yourself" Mark 12:31, I decided that would be my life-long mission. Over the years I have participated in various charitable events like Operation Shoe Box, packing food for children to eat on the weekends with CHEW (Children Hunger Elimination of Wilson), and cut patterns for dresses for girls in third world countries with high levels of human trafficking through our Sewing Ministry. But my greatest love is going out into the community and hearing the needs of others firsthand. This has led me to do many things like collecting gently used formal wear for an inner-city middle school prom as well as collecting coats for elementary school students in a low-income area. I never knew the love of community until I became a transplant in a little town called Wilson in North Carolina 17 years ago. As a young family in a new town without family or friends, we needed not only resources but social interaction and support. I dropped out of college when I had my daughter at 23 and without a degree it was hard for me to find a job to supplement my husband’s income. When we joined Wilson Community Church, we felt a love we’ve never felt before, so many people were willing to help us. In an instant I had a job and we made plenty of friends. The help from our church changed our lives completely. I want everyone in our community to receive that same love from me. There is no better feeling than seeing the smile on someone’s face when you lighten their burden or help wash away their fears. I’ll never forget a family whose breadwinner lost her job around the holidays. She was heartbroken that their children would not have presents for Christmas. I went to work fundraising and procuring donations. I was very ill at the time as I suffer from Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, so I was not there when everything was delivered but when I saw the video of the kids receiving their mountain of presents, it was an amazing feeling! Helping others is not only important, it is a purpose. So many people in our community have needs that can be met if those of us who are comfortable and happy take the time to pay attention, engage, and sacrifice to help them. There is always someone in need and there is no excuse to ignore them. Even now, as I am trying to finish my degree (17 years in the making) and raising two kids, I still take the time to serve others, whether it’s helping a new widow find a dog to fill the emptiness in her house or giving a big fat hug to a teen girl who is hurting. Using our time, talent, and treasures to help someone is the greatest gift we could ever give and receive.

I'm not the chair of a community board. I haven't created a non-profit. You will not find my name on any plaques or awards, but I feel as though I serve my community well. I am not a conventional community servant. I serve my community best one on one. In my household of four, my children are never surprised when I need to run out the door to visit a grieving mother. My supporting husband always smiles and nods in agreement whenever I tell him I provided dinner for a family whose mother is suffering through chemotherapy. We've helped so many over the years that I decided to open a savings account just to help others. When Jesus told us to "love our neighbors as yourself" Mark 12:31, I decided that would be my life-long mission. Over the years I have participated in various charitable events like Operation Shoe Box, packing food for children to eat on the weekends with CHEW (Children Hunger Elimination of Wilson), and cut patterns for dresses for girls in third world countries with high levels of human trafficking through our Sewing Ministry. But my greatest love is going out into the community and hearing the needs of others firsthand. This has led me to do many things like collecting gently used formal wear for an inner-city middle school prom as well as collecting coats for elementary school students in a low-income area. I never knew the love of community until I became a transplant in a little town called Wilson in North Carolina 17 years ago. As a young family in a new town without family or friends, we needed not only resources but social interaction and support. I dropped out of college when I had my daughter at 23 and without a degree it was hard for me to find a job to supplement my husband’s income. When we joined Wilson Community Church, we felt a love we’ve never felt before, so many people were willing to help us. In an instant I had a job and we made plenty of friends. The help from our church changed our lives completely. I want everyone in our community to receive that same love from me. There is no better feeling than seeing the smile on someone’s face when you lighten their burden or help wash away their fears. I’ll never forget a family whose breadwinner lost her job around the holidays. She was heartbroken that their children would not have presents for Christmas. I went to work fundraising and procuring donations. I was very ill at the time as I suffer from Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, so I was not there when everything was delivered but when I saw the video of the kids receiving their mountain of presents, it was an amazing feeling! Helping others is not only important, it is a purpose. So many people in our community have needs that can be met if those of us who are comfortable and happy take the time to pay attention, engage, and sacrifice to help them. There is always someone in need and there is no excuse to ignore them. Even now, as I am trying to finish my degree (17 years in the making) and raising two kids, I still take the time to serve others, whether it’s helping a new widow find a dog to fill the emptiness in her house or giving a big fat hug to a teen girl who is hurting. Using our time, talent, and treasures to help someone is the greatest gift we could ever give and receive.