The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group’s volunteer appreciation event is returning next Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
More than 520 volunteers have logged more than 67,477 volunteer hours since the organization began in 2008.
This year’s awards winners for CDG include Gene Freiburger as volunteer of the year, White Tree Bakery (and Jen Juhl) as business of the year, The Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission as committee of the year and Les and Katrina Garner as citizens of the year.
Between making Magical Night and the trolley rides safer (Freiburger and Tim Kelley’s work this past winter), or the work to get Lisbon’s Main Street and Meyers Farmstead barns and outbuildings on the National Register of Historic Places (Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission) or the countless projects that Les and Katrina Garner have been a part of in their more than 20 years in the community (which have included help starting the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council, supporting Chalk the Walk and Lincoln Highway Arts Festival and the newly formed community foundation funds for the community of Mount Vernon and Lisbon that will benefit many causes in the future), there’s plenty to celebrate. Even White Tree Bakery’s ongoing efforts to help promote the activities in the uptown and Jen’s cheerful bravado when visiting (have you ever seen anyone leave a bakery unhappy?)
But alongside those award winners is a recognition for the countless other volunteers who help make these communities and our festivals something to crow about. We’ve spoken about this in numerous editorials in the past, but it bears repeating – these celebrations, festivals and occurrences we have in our town don’t happen without the support of many different individuals able to take a shift or two and help where they are able.
This celebration is just as much about those award winners as it is for all volunteers to take time and enjoy another year of fantastic festivals in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon community (and just before the Sauerkraut Days festival returns this weekend). Come enjoy tacos and celebrate the accomplishments of many volunteers in Mount Vernon and Lisbon.