April was National Volunteer Appreciation Month and, last Friday (04.25), Charles City honored 39 outstanding volunteers from non-profit organizations, the schools and the community in general at the annual Community Volunteer Recognition event held at the Community Center.
Fifteen different organizations recognized their standout volunteers, including the Main Street Charles City program and the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce who jointly organized the event. Honorees include Phil Hammermeister as Main Street Charles City Volunteer of the Year. Mayor Dean Andrews presented Mike McCarty with the Hometown Hero Award, with Cherie Schafer named the Chamber’s the 2024-25 Person of the Year.
Caught in the Act Award winners include Dianne Cardos, Bruce and Sherry Cannon, Victoria and Jamey Mead, Laura Wallace, Deontae Roe, and Julie Miller.
Nominations were submitted by the public for both the Person of the Year and “Caught in the Act Awards,” which recognized individuals seen doing something unselfish for others or their community during the past 12 months.
*Photo courtesy Charles City Chamber & Tourism on Facebook.
***Complete list of winners below
Caught in the Act I … Dianne Cardos
Floyd County Extension – VITA Team of Dawn Kozisek, Marcia Hovinga, Sandra Hicks. Chuck Meyer … presenters Amy Leaman and new Regional Extension Director Amy Hunzelman. Four volunteers that contributed over 224 hours in the month of February and March to complete 123 tax returns at no cost to members of the community. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Federal Government.
Immaculate Conception School … IC Wildcat Hall of Fame recipients Bruce and Sherry Cannon
Caught in the Act II … Rita Sanner
Washington Elementary School … Lydia Johnson
Lincoln Elementary School …Sarah Murray
Caught in the Act III …Laura Wallace
Charles City Middle School … Amanda Rahmiller
Charles City High School … Sarah Downing
Caught in the Act IV … Deontae Roe
Charles Theatre … Theatre Board members Tami Vetter, Linda Hughes, Patrick Nyberg, Michael Tracey, Janiece Bergland, Robin Macomber and Chuck Van Gilder
TLC: The Learning Center … Rita Sanner
National 19th Amendment Society … Bill Frye, Terry Connor and Mike Downey (accepted by son Austin). Presenters Christy Laube (left) and Heidi Worrall
Charles City Community Center … Judy Hauser
Caught in the Act V – Julie Miller
Congregate Meals … Harlyn Kolb, Terry Parsons and Steve Reams
Foster Grandparents … Claudia Herman (Chickasaw County), Carmen Ramsay (Cerro Gordo County), Aletha Berding-Powell (Floyd County and FGP of the Year Overall). Not pictured – Carol Pollard (Mitchell County)
Caught in the Act VI … Jamey and Victoria Mead
MSCC Volunteer of the Year … Phil Hammermeister
Hometown Hero Award … Mike McCarty
Chamber Person of the Year … Cherie Schafer
