MOUNT VERNON — After her retirement in 2015, Amy Hall-Haney kickstarted her volunteer work in the Mount Vernon community. A Mount Vernon resident for more than 30 years, Hall-Haney is a well-known figure across several organizations.
Hall-Haney said she wanted to start volunteering so she could get involved in the community and give back to the town with her newfound free time after retirement.
One of the aspects Hall-Haney is most known for in Mount Vernon is Awards Night, which honored the work of local volunteers throughout the past year. Hall-Haney primarily worked on designing and constructing the themes of Awards Night, creating elaborate party scenes with creative decorations.
Hall-Haney said she didn’t have a specific process behind creating the themes and just went with ones she thought would be exciting to present. Past themes include Outer Space, Cowboys and Cowgirls, and the Roaring ’20s.
Hall-Haney said she purchased a flapper dress for the Roaring ’20s Awards Night, and many volunteers recall her teaching a few Charleston dance steps. The Outer Space theme was also particularly notable for its creativity and dedication to the concept.
“We used tissue paper to create the alien decorations and added googly eyes to them,” Hall-Haney said. “I dressed up as a martian.”
When asked why she was so passionate about creating memorable Awards Nights, Hall-Haney said the experience was the driving factor for her.
“I suppose I just loved the party,” she said.
Hall-Haney was also a driving force behind the Cold Turkey Contest, which raised money for the Hilltop Park area on Main Street. She said about seven people ended up quitting smoking for at least the duration of the contest.
Hall-Haney said she never expected to be named Volunteer of the Year and was surprised when she learned of her nomination.
“That’s not the reason we do it, but it’s nice to be sort of recognized,” she said. “My husband Patrick is very proud of me. I’ve heard from so many of my friends who’ve all had nice things to say as well.”
Outside of her volunteer work, Hall-Haney and her husband, Patrick Haney, are passionate about their 1955 Pontiac Chieftain. Although Hall-Haney’s Pontiac was not in the classic car show at Heritage Days this year, it has occasionally made appearances at the Main Street show in past years.
Besides Awards Night, Hall-Haney has been instrumental in several Mount Vernon organizations and events throughout the past decade, including the Smithsonian’s Home Town Teams, the Community Development Group and chairing the Organizational Committee.
This month, Hall-Haney will be busy volunteering at Camp Tanager with the diabetes camp group. She worked for many years as a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with MercyOne until her retirement in 2015.
Overall, Hall-Haney encourages everyone to find a local organization to volunteer with, saying it provides valuable experiences for all.
“Go out and get involved,” she said. “You won’t regret it.”