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Celebrating Volunteers In The Valley

photo provided Cecile Gebo

photo provided Margo Grace

photo provided Lenore Morse

Tuesday March 5, 2013

By Cookie Steponaitis

Volunteers fill not only a niche in the community but are a source of never ending hope and smiles. Each one gives more than just their time because they share themselves and their experiences with others. The Valley Voice is celebrating volunteers of the Champlain Valley and is showcasing some of them as a way to illustrate the diversity and depth of volunteerism that is a part of the tapestry of life in Vermont today.

Cecile Gebo spends her volunteer time brightening the day of people who are sick, elderly and lonely. She allocates her time among Fletcher Allen Health Care, Fanny Allen Rehabilitation and nursing homes as well as private homes in the Vergennes area. Cecile feels, “Volunteering is my life because I feel I am paying forward for all the blessings I have in my life.”  Cecile has been bringing communion to people who cannot attend church for the past seven years and encourages all those reading the Voice to, “…imagine your life without a friend to talk to and then go out and be that friend to someone else.”

Addison County Readers, Inc. board member Margo Grace has a passion for literacy and putting books into the hands of children.  She has reached out to organizations, families and communities at local events including Farmer’s Markets and Vergennes Day for the past four years at which books are read, shared and then go home in the children’s hands. Margo feels strongly that, “a volunteer is someone who participates in an organization or an event without having any expectations of payment.” And, for Margo the passion for reading is a forever gift and one of the foundational building blocks for young children to become life long learners.

Lenore Morse views her community work as a way to serve, learn new skills and make friends. Lenore is an active volunteer and has been working with the Bixby Library Friends and at the book sales for the past fifteen years and also spends time at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as the Clerk of the Vestry, Flower Guild, Welcome, Sunday School Teacher and outreach volunteer. Other days find her at Vergennes Food Shelf, Sweet Charity and as the co-president of the Addison County Retired Teachers. The community for Lenore is a wonderful collection of connections that bring joy, improve life for others and create a sense of continuity in the lives of so many.   

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