ECHO VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce awarded the 2006 Herbert C. Hunter Citizen of the Year Award to OUR OWN - Pat Gauthier. We feel like we are all part of this award and are so proud!

The Inter-Service Club Council of Springfield at their Nineteenth Annual Awards Presentation at the American Legion Post 176 wisely awarded Certificates of Merit to two of our real stalwarts.

Pat Milot who is a former President of the Springfield Woman's Club and organizer of the Springfield Days Parade, and also represents both the Woman's Club and ECHO at the Inter-Service Club Council (of which she is also the Vice-President) was one. Unbeknownst to many - Pat was also lauded by Exxon Mobil Foundation for her volunteer efforts with three hefty matching grants to ECHO. We all know her best as the "doll lady" and surely - she is one!

John Ray was cited for his extraordinary efforts over the past years in the management and oversight of our newly constructed warehouse. Without his assistance, the warehouse that will serve the Springfield community for the next quarter of a century would not have been built. We also know John as the one who works hard to keep our food supplies well-stocked.

Several ECHO volunteers are credited with playing a major role in the support of a fine art foundation that seeks to nurture the creativity of underprivileged Filipino youth. The tie-in to ECHO comes about when Betty Floredo and Cory Sanz arrange to ship to the foundation clothes, linens, shoes and school supplies that are surplus to the needs of our community. Those items are then distributed to the families of the children targeted for assistance by the Mother of all Art Foundation, Inc.

The tables were loaded with goodies and neatly priced. A myriad of cheerful, hardworking, wonderful volunteers were on hand to help you bag, straighten the tables, clean up messes, restock, haul things in - haul things out - all the while looking like they are having a great time. Susan Nunez's girl scout troop (#498) again sold coffee and donuts and presented us with a nice check! The crowds came and within just a short time - the volunteers were already closing down some booths. Mary Nelson, Cele Frazee and all the volunteers again did an awesome job. And in the end, ECHO's coffers were $12,000 richer. You should all be proud of yourselves!

Mary Nelson meticulously gluing together shoelaces on "collectible baby booties so she can charge money at the yard sale.

Carol Wood asked Harris Teeter if she might buy some much needed paper bags for our Food Room and came out with 400 donated bags. Does this qualify her as our "bag lady?"

Fran Eck (long suffering schedule putter together) and Duane and Alice Carlson (founders of ECHO) were the first to volunteer for St. Marks Lutheran Church's assigned ECHO clean up day!

Judy Walker (wife of counselor Bob) made up some beautiful quilts to be sold at the yard sale. One never made it - was snatched up (but paid for) by a fellow volunteer.

Susie Miller and Debbie Eakin (housewares volunteers) along with friend Andy Smith hold, sort and price ECHO's excess toys after our yard sale for a consignment yard sale at Spring-Mar preschool. A huge job, but we benefited with a nice check from Spring-Mar.

Music to the Ears! The happy chatter of the clothing table people as they cheerfully sort bags and bags of donated clothes and help customers - sometimes with language barriers they seem to surmount. Meg and Kathy's super gals.

And not to be forgotten, the great efforts of Claudia Kiely, Chris Page and Dani Schwalb who once again ran a successful Christmas Shop.

The MOP MAN strikes again. This time he was spotted cleaning up yet another accident - this time in the Client/Counselor waiting room!

And the big sneak at ECHO - Bob Thoen, who quietly repairs donated computers - and also keeps our stations in good working order. We know you are there, Bob!

Rev. Jonathan Bryan donated 40 copies of his newest book "Nevertheless: God Retrieves Us" to be sold for donations to ECHO.

A nice note was received from Fr. Joseph Lim, JASG-C/, American Embassy, Baghdad for stuffed toys and school supplies we donated for local Iraqi children.

Angie McHale donated six brand new winter coats. M. Slayter sells items on "Craig's List, then donates proceeds to ECHO. Frances Mohr donated a bunch of much needed appliances.

The LDS congregation and Adat Reyim along with ECHO volunteers helped with the Letter Carriers Union food drive. Christine Lundregan ran the whole show The children of Amy Stewart all came to help as their Mother's Day gift for Amy. Residents of Burke Lake Gardens held a food drive to benefit ECHO. Another big food drive was held by the residents of Greenspring. Curves for Women (owner Cami Noble) also held food drives at all three stores.

Madeline Diez and Emily Quinn (Troop 3928) brought collected food, towels and sheets for Bronze Award Projects. Service Unit 52-10 and 6 in Springfield delivered donations. Service Unit 52-07 Teen Troop 3928 brought toiletries and personal care items.

Alexis Austin of Burke held a Community Service Collection and delivered much needed paper bags for our food people. Tim Stryker and Grace Presbyterian Elementary School Fellowship baked cookies for our clients. Amy Darger-Stewart and Keene Mill Elementary collected new underclothing and socks for men, women and children. St. Bernadette's School had a sock hop and brought in bags of socks all sorted by sex and size. Sangster Elementary donated huge bags of unclaimed jackets, sweatshirts and miscellaneous. Hunt Valley Elementary School's SCA donated three huge bags of men's, women's children's socks. Terra Center Student Council donated 37 boxes of food. Gester Jewish Day School bought large boxes of canned food and the students toured ECHO Lake Braddock High School Chorus donated over 30 boxes of food. Key Middle School Physical Education donated six large bags of clothing. Keene Mill Elementary School donated over 30 boxes of food. Primary children of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Burke brought in a load of food.

And then there came the man who had fallen on hard times and needed some help with his utility bill. Counselor Terry Thoen helped him with the problem and then asked "Can we help you with anything else. Some food perhaps?" As they walked into our food room, the gentleman spotted a birthday cake donated by a local supermarket. He asked Terry if he might take that and with the affirmative answer - the man broke into tears and told our counselor: "Tomorrow is our baby's birthday and I did not have the money to buy a cake." Knowing our Terry, we are surprised he did not walk out with the ECHO warehouse!

How come they always forget us?

BECFI Employment Community Fund, Catalogue for Philanthropy, Clifton Community Woman's Club Erickson Retirement Communities, Exxon Mobil, Frank & Company employees, Just Give (non-profit org.), Kaiser Permanente nurses, Lockheed Martin Employees Charities of Choice, SAID-Science Applications International, South Run Neighborhood, Springfield/Franconia Mid Day Lions Club, Treasured Child Inc., Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Verizon Foundation, Visa International.