Athens Community Council on Aging
Volunteer Highlights
Hank is one of ACCA’s newest volunteers and he’s a fan of gardens. Hank began tending to the community garden begun here on ACCA’s campus this spring with partners from UGA Department of Agriculture and their students. Although he’s originally from St. Simmons, GA, he moved to Athens about a year ago, and began working on Three Pigs Farm in Winterville. He came here from North Carolina where he attended Warren Wilson College and was a forestry major.
At Warren Wilson, the students learn by the standard “Triad” of academics, work and service. This is where Hank developed his love of volunteering and giving back to his community. He found the opportunity to work in our community garden through the HandsOn posting and thought it would be a great match for him because he knows a lot about community gardening. Hank now comes out to ACCA, in his free time, to water, pick, dig or do whatever the garden needs to look great and produce great food.
Since Hank knows so much about growing food, you have to wonder if he enjoys cooking it as much. In short: yes! His favorite dishes to make are pesto from home grown basil and squash or zucchini bread (which apparently tastes like cake). We love having Hank around to help us keep our garden beautiful.
Mary Hutcherson is one of our longest serving volunteers. Back in 1986, she started as a favor to a friend who was working in Meals on Wheels at the time. She told her, “I’ll help you out delivering meals, but only for three months.” Now,
24 years later, we are happy that Mary Hutcherson is still with us! Dubbed “The Angel of Parkview Homes” by a previous director, Mary is our guardian angel of Route 2 on Tuesdays. She says that the feeling of doing good for somebody keeps her coming back week after week.
With each New Year, we often make resolutions to improve our lives. We hope that each year will be even better than the one before. Who would have known that on January 1, 2010, our New Year would see joy and blessings by way of two new volunteers: Kitty and David Donnan. They even brought their four legged baby…. Windifur Dog Donnan, who is now also a dedicated Meals on Wheels Volunteer. They call her “Windy” for short and she rides routes proudly in the back seat, ready to greet anyone who receives a meal.
The Donnan’s came to us through First Presbyterian Church, where they are very active members. For many years, members of First Presbyterian Church have dedicated their holidays to Meals on Wheels, sponsoring and driving routes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Donnans signed up for the first time on New Year’s Day and came in with enthusiasm. Their experience that day was so good that, in the weeks since, Kitty, Dave, and Windy have come in and graciously driven a meal route. Each day sixteen meal routes are delivered by volunteers and the Donnan’s have driven all of them at some point. Fun and fearless, they enjoy doing a different route each week and visiting with all of the different people.
When they are not delivering meals, they spend time gardening, attending local music concerts, participating in book clubs, loving Windy, and entertaining friends at their new home. In June 2008, they moved to Georgia from Hope Town, Abaco Bahamas. For 10 years they enjoyed life, volunteering in a school for special needs children and sailing.
Dave and Kitty say that their favorite part of volunteering for Meals on Wheels is meeting and getting to know the people they deliver meals to. They also enjoy spending time with each other, and it shows. The room literally lights up when they walk in. Our new friends have been a wonderful addition to our program and we enjoy them dearly.
Rain or shine…sleet or snow…the Donnan’s are dedicated and delightful Meals on Wheels volunteers. Thank you so much!!
Be creative!
We are always looking at new ways for individuals, families, or groups to get involved at ACCA. Do you have a great idea for us? Tell us how much we need you!
Contact Sarah McKinney, Director of Volunteer Services, at (706) 549-4850 or email