Toot’s Salutes Local Volunteers

Each week, Wade Hays and everyone at Toot’s Good Food & Fun salute an outstanding volunteer. The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to be used at either of the Toot’s locations here in Rutherford County. Here in Murfreesboro, Toot’s is on the corner of Broad and the Medical Center Parkway (in front of Jackson Heights Shopping Plaza). The Toot’s Smyrna location is at 301 Sam Ridley Parkway West. Mail your nominations for VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK to WGNS, or you can e-mail them to news@WGNSradio.com Please include your nominee’s name, exact mailing address, including zip code. It is also very important to write a few sentences as to why this person deserves to be the Outstanding Volunteer. And be sure to thank Wade Hays and our friends at Toot’s for encouraging everyone to volunteer!

James Reed Mansfield is young in years, but his Eagle Scout project created an amphitheater for youth in Smyrna. This teen also volunteers with Murfreesboro’s Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH).

Don and Tammi Schneider are active with Cub Scout Pack 197 at Barfield Elementary School. This couple volunteer their time to help young boys become future leaders. Also, Don is the Cubmaster of the pack, and Tammi devote caring training to these scouts.

Herb White volunteers with both the Wellness Center at Middle Tennessee Medical Center as well as at the Dispensary of Hope. He is also involved in helping others throughthe Lion’s Club, American Legion and the Food Bank. Plus, Herb is always doing maintenance for Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Bert and Billie Spinks bring a big birthday cake each month to the children at the Mercury Court Pre-School. This couple does this as an outreach from Central Christian Church. Each child having a birthday gets a present, and they all get cake. Plus, Bert reads books to these four year olds.

Bill McKay is a volunteer at Murfreesboro’s First Presbyterian Church. His I.T. and engineering talents keeps the church’s computer network and video surveillance system in top order. Although his home was totally destroyed in the tornado, Bill was the first to help others.

Denessa Bell is a volunteer firefighter and fire prevention coordinator with the Christiana Volunteer Fire Department. She is also a Girl Scout leader, always helping at Christiana Elementary School, and an avid proponent of autism awareness and special needs children.

Bryan Everett is always volunteering to help others. He waited with a cancer patient’s family for a full day at the hospital. When they needed food, he would get it. When they went home, he walked them to their car.

John Morgan volunteers as a Reserve Deputy with the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office. He helps during peak times, and is such a caring person that sheriffs’ personnel ease their stress by talking with him.

Cannon Loughry was singled-out by Nelson Lane tornado victims as the one who not only individually came to their rescue, but when it was more than he could do–Cannon secured 50 or more volunteers.

Betty Hendrick is always first to volunteer at any time and for any need at First Baptist Church. In addition, she serves as secretary of her Sunday School class and department. She has a pleasant smile and is very humble.

Billy Pearson is a one-man benevolence committee for the Kingwood Heights Church of Christ. He also helps with their disaster relief, and sets Lion’s Club vision appointments for children (ages 1-6).

Erin Nolin is a senior student at Blackman High School. She is a volunteer as treasurer of the Key Club, and organized efforts to help AIDS parents in Africa, raised $3,800 for UNICEF and more.

Dr. Omri Rawlins is a retired MTSU professor who does mission work in Kentucky and is very active with volunteer work at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Mary Lucy Yowell has lived here for only about a year, but jumped-in to volunteer for numerous charitable groups.
Liz Rhea goes way beyond the extra mile to help MTSU, charitable groups and other needy causes to raise money.
Bob Ousley volunteers to promote patriotism and honor our troops as president of Rolling Thunder.
Mary Beth Wilson volunteers in helping at the Red Cross, especially in caring for hurricane victims.
Florence Smith volunteers in many, many areas including her church and the NAACP.
Jim Bosse volunteers in the visitors center and living history presentations at the Stones River Battlefield.
Katherine Steele volunteers in coordinating the activities in children’s education at 1st Presbyterian.
George Hanson volunteers to work with children in their reading program at Mitchell-Neilson Primary.
Andrea Loughry volunteers to coordinate projects that bring high-tech jobs to our community.
Don Wright volunteers with Exchange Club’s Child Abuse Prevention Center. He listens to others, and helps!
Heloise Shilstadt volunteers, coordinates and works to keep the local rivers and streams debris-free and clean.
Candy Roberts is an active volunteer with the Murfreesboro Little Theatre as well as other groups that help others.
Jen Hilsher her love for animals guided her to founding all volunteer On The Fifth Day Animal Sanctuary
Connie Middleton a great role-model who is always working to lift-up and encourage others to do their best.
Tom Tozer active in volunteer work with the Salvation Army, Heart Association and with students.
Ron Ziemba volunteers to raise money and helps build hand-powered rolling chairs (PET) for handicapped third world residents
this loving couple paid to learn Spanish, and then teach English free to Hispanics at St. Rose Church
Patsy Heaberlin volunteers with the American Cancer Society and has helped over 100 women with Reach to Recovery.
Courtney Yates always helps those with needs through her board work with the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the Red Cross.
Kathleen Herzog is always rolling-up her sleeves and tackling the hard work for our community that others seem to avoid.
Dwight Ogleton established Kool Aide to take free air conditioners/fans to needy senior citizens on hot days.
Doron Claiborne just completed a year as president of the Murfreesboro Rotary Club. His compassion for other and dedication to the FOUR WAY TEST enabled him to help so many locally and in third world countries.
Cindy Phiffer who headed the Arts In The ‘Boro event and raised $12,500 to create public art in Murfreesboro.
Janice Kittrell constantly helps the sight impaired through her on going volunteer work with the Lion’s Sight Program.
Emily Shacklett volunteers at MTSU’s Presbyterian Student Fellowship, little league coach, and mission work with Indians.
Kathryn McCroskey is an inspiring community leader who is helping Shiloh area residents get a safer road.
Larry Kirk goes 110% in getting people to give blood, join BRAA or anything in which he is involved.
Tommy Campbell who is active with the Blue Raider Athletic Association, Red Cross and more.
Greg and Minh-Triet Tucker hosted the Sardinian Folk Fest musical troupe and then held a fish fry for everyone from the Netherlands, India and Italy. This couple is also very involved in preserving local history.

You can e-mail your nomination: Volunteer@WGNSradio.com
Be sure to include their name, address (and zip code), phone number and why you are nominating them.