Volunteers recognized for service to community at Lehigh Valley Unsung Hero Awards | Lehigh County

This is Lehigh County’s 26th year honoring people in the community who dedicate their time to serving others.

Its annual Unsung Hero Awards ceremony was held in celebration of Older Americans Month.

A room full of people who are difference makers. Thousands of hours of dedicated service to Lehigh County and an example of what healthy aging looks like.

“They put so many years of time in our communities and that is why we call them unsung heroes because they have so much to give back, so much information,” said JR Reed the Executive Director of Aging & Adult Services.

Twelve people who serve silently and whose efforts are often unnoticed, but whose impact is being felt.

“I’m just amazed at the stories we hear every year of different people that do this,” said Reed.

Minal Desai is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

“The joy you get out of it is unbelievable,” said Desai.

Desai has delivered more than 20,000 meals and has logged more than 5,000 volunteer hours.

“Every single time I see my clients it’s a privilege to see them. That smile…happiness on their face…seeing someone as a person,” she said.

The same goes for the other honorees. It is a passion for community that drives the efforts.

Each person is nominated by someone else who has seen their impact.

Desai was nominated by Dawn Stillwagen who says while statistics about volunteer hours are great, it is the impact on those she serves that is immeasurable.

“She has so much energy and so much positivity and no matter what is going on, no matter what we throw at her or what she encounters, she always brings hope and that sense of joy to all she brings meals to,” said Stillwagen.

The award recipients are:

Audrey Berg, South Whitehall Township, a volunteer piano player and vocalist at Fellowship Community for 30 years.Catherine Darko, Fountain Hill, a volunteer at the Fountain Hill Senior Center.Minal Desai, Lower Macungie Township, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley.Jean Francis, Whitehall Township, a grief support group organizer at Jordan United Church of Christ.Beatriz Garcia, Allentown, a crafter and volunteer for Casa Guadalupe.Judy Kemmerer, North Whitehall Township, a 22-year volunteer for the Parkland Public Library.Milly Laible, Salisbury Township, volunteer leader with AARP Lehigh Valley.Mary Alice Miller, Allentown, volunteer with AARP and the Woman’s Club of Emmaus.Debra Netwall, Fountain Hill, volunteer at the Fountain Hill Senior Center.Dallas Shorter, Whitehall Township, volunteer coach with Coplay Sports Basketball program.Colette Walbert, Emmaus, volunteer with the Emmaus Woman’s Club.Sarajane Williams, Macungie, president of the Lower Macungie Historical Society.