Friendly, generous, respectful, and genuine are just a few of the words used to describe this Care and Compassion Award winner. Known as a positive presence, this winner has shown his kindness and caring attitude at work and in his community. He does volunteer work through his church frequently, and works tirelessly to educate others and encourage growth and change, both through word and deed. This winner also participates in the Bowl for Kids through Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and was a participant in the Relay for Life cancer walk, and the diabetes walk as well. Not to mention the fact that he has also participated in and sponsored people on the "Green County Walk to Emmaus? which is a movement to inspire, challenge, and equip local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, and daily lives. This winner, Dustin Gudde is not only a Case Manager in our Community Support Program, he is also a man that can put a smile on your face, and show you what care and compassion is all about.

 

Always willing to help anyone in need, this Care and Compassion Award winner frequently gives his time not only to those at Labette Center for Mental Health Services, but to the greater Parsons community. A long time coach at both St. Pat?s and Parsons High School, this winner has made an impact on many people?s lives. Always a positive role model to the young people he coaches, this winner is also a pleasure to work with and can be counted on for having an upbeat attitude. With a passion for sports, coaching, and work in the mental health field, this winner is none other than Tom Schibi, a Community Support Program Team Leader, and the man known as always being ready to lend a hand, and never expecting anything in return.

 

Volunteering his time to help those in need is what this Care and Compassion Award winner does on a regular basis. Whether he is helping people need move, repair damage to their homes, cut grass or hay, or locate items, this winner stays busy. He has even been known to purchase household items for families in need without accepting payment for the item, or any of the help he provides for that matter. These things alone could easily be enough to describe this winner. But it?s important to factor in the time he also spends volunteering through the Red Cross, and if the Red Cross can?t help the person in need, this winner will go above and beyond and contact other organizations in an effort to get the person the assistance they need. And then there?s the volunteer work through his church, which also puts this winner in the position to assist individuals in much the same way that he does through the Red Cross. This winner, Jonathan Tower is more than a Certified Medication Aide, he embodies the spirit of what the Care and Compassion Awards are all about.

 

Sometimes the most profound lessons we can learn in generosity, compassion and humility come in unexpected ways. This Care and Compassion Award winner frequently demonstrates small acts of kindness that has big results. From making May baskets for the elderly to making bread to leave in the mailbox for the mailman, to making a birthday cake for her 95-year-old neighbor, this winner is special. As a matter of fact, two years ago instead of asking for new clothes, video games, or toys for Christmas, this winner wrote a very special letter to Santa Claus asking him for blankets to be donated to the homeless shelter in Parsons, the Safe Haven Outreach mission. Santa did that, as a matter of fact 40 blankets were donated by him in her name. In addition, he brought four more to her house Christmas morning for her to deliver herself. This winner wasn?t done, not by a long shot. This past Christmas she again decided to reach out to those less fortunate and decided to raise money for the shelter. She, along with the help of her mom, decided to make jewelry and sell it to friends, family member, classmates, and others in the community with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Safe Haven. The goal, $200.00, the result, $1430.00. She has not only helped Safe Haven for two years in a row, but has brought attention to their cause and plans are underway for next year already. This winner is none other than nine-year-old Maggie Billman, who we feel personifies what the Care and Compassion Awards are about, and she continues to show each and every one of us what a kind, caring, and generous heart she has.

 

Homelessness is often seen as a problem found in larger cities, however, on any given night there are as many as 69 homeless people, without any friends or family to give them shelter, right here in Labette County. Recognizing this problem and finding a way to address it is what this Care and Compassion Award winner has done. It was through a strong desire to help others that propelled this winner to do more than worry or complain about the problem, she took it upon herself to open the Save Haven Outreach mission. With strong faith to help her get through difficult times, this winner deals day in and day out with funding issues, lack of space for those in need, or the difficult process of asking someone to leave the mission ? all high stress ? all for no pay. This winner lives and breathes her passion, 40+ hours a week to ensure that those who truly want and need help ? have it ? and she does it all on a volunteer basis. This winner,  Melissa Brown, is making a difference to hundreds of people each and every year, and that?s Care and Compassion in action.

 

With a ready smile for everyone he meets, this Care and Compassion Award winner is a frequent volunteer at Oswego Elementary, and decided to take his desire to help others a step further and in 2009 began volunteering as a Salvation Army bell ringer at the Meadowbrook Mall. With a Santa hat, infectious smile, and strong desire to help, this winner gave his all and rang that bell. Donations poured in once people realized that this was no ordinary volunteer, but a special person going to a great deal of effort just to help others. See this winner has been battling Cerebral Palsy since birth, and even though it can be physically difficult for him to carry out acts of kindness, he is always looking for ways to help others. Christmas 2010 brought this winner back to the Meadowbrook Mall to ring the bell for those less fortunate. 2010 also brought something extra special to the mix, an anonymous donor offered to double what this winner could raise in a week up to $10,000, and together they gave the Salvation Army of Pittsburg one of their best years yet. Rather than expecting people to help him because of his disability, this winner, Colby Gott, does what he can to help others and embodies Care and Compassion at its finest.