April is National Volunteer Month—a great time for our community to come together and spend time giving back. Nonprofits in our region simply cannot do their important work without the support of compassionate, caring individuals who give of their time and talents to uplift our mission. In recognition of their outstanding service, three individuals have been selected as United Way’s CommUNITY Volunteers of the Year.
Two adults and one youth, were selected by a United Way committee to be honored as this year’s winners. Criteria for selection included years of service, number of organizations where the individual actively volunteers, hours of volunteer service provided, along with fundraising and advocacy to support community organizations.
Chevy Hassell (adult honoree)
Chevy serves with the Lived Experience Advisors of Kansas City (LeaKC). Just three years ago, she and her daughter were living in their car. Upon joining the work of LeaKC, her nominator shared, “She not only found support, but her voice and purpose. She has become a force for change.”
Chevy has contributed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service in the past year alone. Through her work and advocacy, she directly contributed to seven new transitional housing homes opening. She has not only transformed her own life, but the lives of countless others in our community.
Rich Labelle (adult honoree)
Rich serves with HopeBUILDERS and Happy Bottoms. He’s been involved in everything from client visits, to ordering materials, recruiting and coordinating with volunteers, and overseeing project builds. Not only has he given thousands of hours of his volunteer time, he also pledges financially to the causes and organizations he cares about. His nominator said, “His impact is both deep and measurable. What sets Rich apart is the way he shows up. He brings positivity, energy and a sense of fun to every space he enters. He builds community, strengths organizations and inspires others to give back.”
Sean Bamber (youth honoree)
At just 17 years old, Sean is an active volunteer with Happy Bottoms and has pledged more than 150 hours of his time to the organization in the past two and a half years. On an average shift, he labels 220 packs of diapers, which can serve 73 children for one month. Sean is always willing and eager to train new volunteers.
His nominator shared, “Although Sean is legally blind and has limited mobility, these challenges have never limited his contributions. Instead, they highlight his determination, resiliency and extraordinary commitment to helping others.”
Each winner was presented with a certificate and gift certificates to local businesses in appreciation of their exemplary service. To learn more about connecting with volunteer opportunities near you, explore the United Way Community Partners Directory.