Denise Dyer, a faithful RIFA volunteer, was recognized as the Madison County Adult Honoree at the Governor's Volunteer Stars Awards! The Governor's Volunteer Stars Awards, a recognition initiative through Volunteer Tennessee, recognize one adult and one youth volunteer from each county in Tennessee for their outstanding service to their community.
Denise was recognized for her service through RIFA! She has served in a variety of capacities at RIFA, including the Bus Stop Cafe, Snack Backpack, Senior Staples, and the Soup Kitchen. Never attention-seeking, Denise prefers to serve faithfully behind the scenes, performing vital tasks that impact RIFA's patrons and our community.
Denise is particularly passionate about the Bus Stop Cafe, RIFA's outreach that provides free lunches to children, up to age 18, during the summer months when the risk for food insecurity is even higher. Because the children are not in school, they are not able to benefit from the guaranteed breakfast and lunch that the school provides. Volunteers like Denise help serve lunches on the bus and interact with the children and families, forming relationships that go beyond the Bus. She shares her summer selflessly, volunteering on a weekly basis on the Bus–and whenever a need may arise!
Denise also serves weekly in our Snack Backpack outreach. Every Tuesday, during the school year, volunteers gather to pack 1,000 Snack Backpack bags that will go to Jackson-Madison County elementary school children who would otherwise go without food over the weekend. Denise is one of those on whom we depend to help new volunteers "learn the ropes".
No matter what the need, Denise is always willing to help meet it! Whether it's lending a hand in the Soup Kitchen when a volunteer is ill or packing food boxes for our food-insecure senior adult friends, she makes herself available to help others. Her kindness, generosity, and commitment to helping the most vulnerable in our community is matchless.
