Linda Synder- SOS Volunteer

Earlier this month Linda Snyder made a very difficult decision regarding the United Way Effingham Service Center’s monthly nutritional grocery distribution for seniors called the S.O.S. (Sustaining Our Seniors) program. After more than 18 years of voluntarily coordinating this program, she decided to retire effective Dec. 23. Due to her sudden resignation, Dec. 17 was the last SOS program distribution (formerly known as the Brown Bag Program for the Elderly).

Since 1999, Ms. Linda has been a constant and devoted volunteer to this program. She has worked on average 25 hours a week seeking food items for the SOS bags from America's Second Harvest Food Bank and local grocers, delivering and unloading the food items, then working with other volunteers to compile and give out the bags each month. During all of this time, Ms. Linda was reimbursed only for the cost of each bag of groceries. She was not reimbursed for the cost of gasoline, the use of her family's vehicles to transport the food, or for the time she spent coordinating the program. Her only compensation was the "Thank You" she received from the program's recipients and the warm compassionate feeling in her heart that she has for helping others.

To find out more about highlighting outstanding volunteers on our website contact Shirley Sessions.