SCCFF volunteers receive national recognition

In their mission to end violence against women, men and children, the Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF) dedicates their time advocating for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, while providing a safe haven and support for those in Sanders County. In order for SCCFF to provide the help and services they do, they need help themselves. Volunteers from around the community have stepped up and donated their time in order to help SCCFF stay true to their mission.

SCCFF is always grateful for the help they receive from their volunteers. However, this year, the coalition was able to honor the volunteers in a monumental way by nominating six Sanders County residents for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Founded in 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, created the program to “recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity,” the program’s website says. “This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action too.”

“This is the first time we had volunteers meet the criteria for the award,” said Crystal Buchanan, outreach and volunteer coordinator for SCCFF. According to Buchanan, over a 12-month period, volunteers have to meet a certain number of hours that are required to earn the award. For young adults, ages 16 to 25, the bronze level requires 100 to 174 volunteer hours, silver level requires 175-249 hours, and the gold level requires 250 hours. For adults over the age of 26, the bronze level requires 100 to 249 hours of volunteering, silver level requires 250 to 499 hours, and gold level requires 500 or more hours. Once the volunteers reach these levels, Buchanan says SCCFF can nominate and request awards for those individuals.

The six volunteers nominated by SCCFF, all received the official President’s Volunteer Service Award medallion, a personalized certificate of achievement, and a letter signed by President Donald J. Trump. Lynn Cooper of Thompson Falls received the gold medal, who in the last year volunteered 780 hours of her time on the SCCFF emergency helpline. Judy Stephens of Plains, is a helpline volunteer for SCCFF. She received a gold medal for 541 volunteer hours in the past 12 months.

Thompson Falls resident Joyce Reeser, was nominated for the bronze level volunteer award. She volunteered 180 hours of her time, making quilts for families in need and for the emergency shelter. “She shared with me that she has been making quilts for over 25 years,” Buchanan said of Reeser. “She said donating her time and the quilts is all worth it, if it makes a difference to a child in need.”

Doris Larson of Plains received a bronze medal for her 180 hours of service. “Doris has volunteered by collecting, cleaning and organizing materials for our multi-purpose room and outreach programs, items such as gently used board games and crafting materials,” Buchanan said. “She has also been a huge blessing in organizing other community or church members to help out as well.” Larson also volunteered her time sewing pillowcases and aprons for the emergency shelter.

Jolia Buchanan also received a bronze medal for volunteering 100 hours of her time during the last year. “Jolia has volunteered by hanging emergency helpline flyers in local businesses each month whenever needed, cleaning the office, helping to put out and take down various educational awareness displays,” Buchanan said. “She has also helped with wrapping gifts for children in need, stuffing stockings, and assembling pantry food boxes.” The sixth person nominated for the President’s Volunteer Service Award, wished to keep their name private.

Buchanan, who has been with the SCCFF for the last 10 years, had nothing but praise for the six nominees. “I love all the volunteers,” she said. “We have some pretty creative volunteers, and we network with a lot of different organizations.” At this time of the year, Buchanan and the other volunteers at SCCFF, are busy with their Adopt a Family program. “Our advocates reach out to the clients for items and wish lists, and it’s all confidential,” Buchanan said. Right now, she is currently working on stocking stuffers for the children of Sanders County. The stockings have been hand sewn and donated by the Plains Women’s Club.

To donate, SCCFF is currently looking for stocking stuffers as well as items for their food pantry. While the office is currently closed to visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, interested parties can call ahead to any of the staff at SCCFF. “We are really blessed to live in the community we live in,” Buchanan expressed. “We have so many supporters and we live in a county that has a lot of caring people in it.”