Lycoming County United Way holds annual meeting, presents awards

Awards were handed out, board members approved and community partners were acknowledged at the annual meeting and awards dinner of the Lycoming County United Way recently.

"Tonight we celebrate the achievements of volunteers, community partners, board members and community leaders who work tirelessly to benefit this organization and ultimately, our community, said LCUW President Ron Frick.

About 130 attended the event at the Holiday Inn, the largest crowd since before the pandemic changed everything, a fact which was noted by Frick.

"I want to spend a couple minutes sharing a bit about what we've been up to since we last gathered in 2019 -- it seems like a long time ago since we were all together in this room," Frick said.

"In 2019, we had no idea what was about to hit us. Our community, our country, our economy would be impacted by a virus that killed a lot of things. It killed people, killed an economy and killed our spirits in some cases," he said.

"And yet, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, your United Way remains financially strong, culturally relevant -- a little smaller -- but even more committed to our work in our second century united for the future," Frick said, as he reported what LCUW has been doing in the interim.

The organization has, according to Frick, "found new ways to help mobilize resources, new ways to overcome challenges and a new belief in ourselves and our communities."

"While the effects of COVID-19 continue to impact us in some of our events, we could not do what we do without the support of our community partners, investors and corporate partners, many of whom are sitting in this room tonight," he said.

Part of the evening was dedicated to acknowledging the exemplary work of some of the volunteers who have partnered with LCUW in their work in the community.

The highest honor, the Douglas C. Dickey Humanitarian Award was presented to Kay Ertel. The award is given annually in memory of Dickey, a past president of LCUW who lost his life in the TWA Flight 800 tragedy in 1997.

The award is given to someone who has shown dedicated commitment, outstanding leadership, and substantial significant support to the welfare of Lycoming County, said Dr. William J. Martin who presented the award to Ertel.

Speaking after the event, Ertel said that it was "very humbling" to receive the award.

"It's lovely to be recognized for things you didn't intend to do with the intention of getting recognition," Ertel said.

Ertel urged young people to get involved.

"Anytime you give of yourself, you get more back in gratitude for knowing that you've helped somebody make their life better," Ertel said.

"It's selfish on my part because it's a feel-good feeling because you know you've improved something in their life," she said.

"The community is better because we have so many people that volunteer and help. Think what our tax dollars would be if people didn't volunteer," Ertel said.

Other volunteers were also honored at the meeting for their work with the United Way. The recipients and their awards included: Mary Wolf, the Harriet Lenhart Memorial Women's Leadership Award; Kristen Avery, the President's Award; and Kevin Steinbacher, the Douglas J. Shangraw Memorial Volunteer Award.

During the event, a member of the community who had received help from the resources offered by LCUW community partners spoke of his experience.

Dave Yost, who now serves as a chef at the American Rescue Workers and Sojourner Truth Ministries, shared how at one point in his life he had experienced homelessness.

He had gone to ARW for help and began a program there where the men are required to work.

"I had experience in cooking, so I joined and went into their kitchen and I fulfilled the needs of what I was required to do. Then, I stepped up when they needed someone to cook breakfast, and dinner on the weekend," he said. "They didn't ask me to do it, I just did."

Yost was then asked to join the staff at ARW where he has been employed for almost 22 years.

"God started to work in my life to change my life. He opened my heart, to be giving, to love and to have compassion," he said.

In 2020, Yost again found himself in need again with some medical bills he couldn't pay.

"So, I prayed to God for help and I didn't know what the plan was. He had. A little organization a block away needed a cook and a kitchen manager," Yost said.

The director of Sojourner Truth Ministries, Pastor Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz, called him, "out of the blue" Yost said.

"I didn't even know how she knew my name or my number, but she got her name and number from the American Rescue Workers," he said. "God is amazing. He had a plan."

"I've been working for Sojourner Truth Ministries for three years now. And in those three years it gave me the opportunity to extend that same love and compassion I got from the Rescue Workers to other people -- to work in my community and to help those in need, like I was in need, once myself," he said.

"And one thing I learned over the years, no matter where you're at, you're always going to be in need. And God created in me a giving heart, a servant's heart, and I'm very blessed to be with both organizations. And God blessed me many times over the many years I've been in this service," he said.