For 46 years, Evelyn Shaw of San Diego has given 1,406 hours of her time to work the election polls as a supervisor in her Logan Heights precinct. She has served in at least 74 elections and 12 presidential ones.
Vista resident Lois Harris has volunteered 25,000 hours over more than 10 years at the Vista branch library. She works eight hours a day, six days a week managing the Friends of the Vista Library Encore Bookstore.
These women are just two examples of the 28 dedicated volunteers who were honored today by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The community members were all presented with a Volunteer of the Year medal and proclamation thanking them for their service in various departments across the county. Please see below for a list of our outstanding volunteers.
So, what makes someone volunteer for nearly five decades? Shaw, a precinct inspector, said she enjoys what she does after all these years because she likes people. She chats with the people who come in to vote and she mostly works with the same volunteers every year except for the ones that have passed on. In some cases, she now works with the children of her former poll workers, she said.
Harris, another long-timer volunteer, said she agrees that it is ultimately about the personal relationships with library patrons and fellow volunteers that keep her motivated. She has also worked in libraries for most of her life and “really found (her) niche” working with books.
The volunteers have collectively donated a total of 79,000 hours and served more than 182 years. During the last fiscal year, 29,516 volunteers provided a value of over $33 million to the County.
County volunteer work can be rewarding and enjoyable. Often volunteer work also offers valuable job training. For volunteer opportunities, please visit our County website. You may also browse the various County departments that have volunteer work opportunities.
Volunteer of the Year recipients include:
- Evelyn Shaw of San Diego contributed 1,406 hours over 46 years to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters
- Lois Harris of Vista contributed more than 25,000 hours over more than 10 years at the Vista Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Joe Davis of Santee contributed 14,500 hours over 11 years to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office
- Nick Jappe of Spring Valley contributed 800 hours over one year and eight months to Health & Human Services at Edgemoor Hospital
- Anne Callahan of Escondido contributed 506 hours over two years and six months to Health & Human Services at the Foster Youth Mentor Program
- Ida Boyd of San Diego contributed 1,811 hours over four years to the Health & Human Services at the 4th District Senior Resource Center
- Beverly Henry of San Diego contributed 1,978 hours over four years to the Health & Human Services at a Senior Resource Center over 4 years
- Shirley Salado of Escondido contributed 100 hours over three years to the Farm and Home Advisor’s Office 4-H Club
- Jason Gosschalk of Alpine contributed 300 hours over eight years to the Farm and Home Advisor’s Office 4-H Club
- Elizabeth Castelli of El Cajon contributed 200 hours over five months to the District Attorney’s Office
- Diana Hendrix of San Marcos contributed 640 hours over five years and seven months to the San Marcos Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Nancy Kramer of San Marcos contributed 4,400 hours over six years and seven months to the San Marcos Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Alex Taylor of El Cajon contributed 100 hours over two years to the Crest Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Joel Harris of Solana Beach contributed more than 1,000 hours over 3 years to the Solana Beach Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Alex Koeppel of Chula Vista contributed 2,040 hours over three years and two months to the Bonita-Sunnyside Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Amanda Heath of Poway contributed more than 1,000 hours over four years and five months to the Poway Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Rob Roberto of El Cajon contributed 2,200 hours over 20 years to the El Cajon Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Chris Van Gorder of San Diego contributed more than 6,600 hours over nine years to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue
- Elizabeth Jay of Coronado contributed 1,440 hours over one year and two months to the Office of County Counsel
- Michael Kirkeby of San Diego contributed 88 hours over six months to the Assessor Recorder County Clerk
- Maggie Peckett of Chula Vista contributed 425 hours over two years and six months to the Department of Animal Services
- Issam Mikha of El Cajon contributed 1,080 hours over eight months to the Department of Public Works
- Connie Louis of Encinitas contributed 1,500 hours over five years to Encinitas Branch of the San Diego County Library
- Katherine Casabar of San Diego contributed 564 hours over 13 months to Health & Human Services, North Coastal and North Inland Regions
- Clair Cunningham of San Diego contributed more than 300 hours over more than 5 years to Health & Human Services Agency Polinsky Children’s Center.
- Paul Marciniak of Pala contributed 7,140 hours over seven years at the County Department of Parks and Recreation
- Ellen Siebern of Bonita contributed 1,213 hours over 13 years and eight months to the San Diego County Probation Department
- David Martinez of Oceanside contributed 710 hours over 10 months to the County Department of the Public Defender
