Eufaula Volunteers Honored for Service to Their Community

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Eufaula volunteers were honored for the service they have provided to their community during the OKDHS Annual Volunteer Recognition ceremony.
Receiving an award was Toys for Tots, McIntosh County. Randall Sullivan, Pam Jones and Chris and Coletta Christmas accepted the award on the group's behalf. Jones serves on the Toys for Tots committee. She has coordinated, planned and implemented several events to raise awareness and funds to help each family in need. Her work also includes coordinating the many toy collection and distribution points, assisting parents at the annual event. Jones fits all of this in within her already busy schedule as a local bank officer in Eufaula.

The Christmases, befittingly, are local store owners who maintain a collection jar year round at their business to benefit Toys for Tots. They also host an annual wine tasting and fundraiser that collected $3,000 in 2009.

Also receiving recognition was volunteer Sandi Guess, an OKDHS Child Welfare employee, who participates by coordinating the purchase and distribution of more than 800 donated toys, wrapping those toys and planning Toys for Tots fundraisers such as the bike run and golf tournament. The Boy Scouts of America, Troop 449, were also recognized for supporting Toys for Tots. The scouts assist with the set up and take down at the event, help raise awareness and funds and wrap donated gifts. This is in addition to their usual duties of caring for American flags and honoring the service of American veterans.

Receiving the Freida Mosley Award for Outstanding Service was Roger Harbin. The Mosley Award is named for a longtime Children’s Hospital employee who set an unparalleled example of service to others for 34 years and is presented to an OKDHS employee for outstanding work in the community on behalf of clients. Harbin has devoted most of his professional career as an OKDHS supervisor to helping children. He also finds time to volunteer for the McIntosh County Toys for Tots effort, among many local events. Harbin also meets with community leaders, promotes Toys for Tots, assists with soliciting donations and has organized several events to raise local awareness of the needs of children.

Gov. Brad Henry’s Cabinet Secretary for Human Services, OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick, presented the awards and congratulated the honorees.

The ceremony, Volunteers Light the Way, was held on April 22 in the Chesapeake Room of the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

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