Rossford woman receives inaugural volunteer award |
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Saturday, 04 October 2008 01:00 |
JOLIET—The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, Joliet, Ill. are honoring an Ohio native with the first Mother Alfred Moes Award at its annual fundraiser.
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| Kathy McVicker |
Kathy McVicker of Rossford All Saints is to receive the award in Joliet Oct. 26 at the 19th Annual Franciscan Autumn Feast.
The award, named for Mother Alfred Moes, the foundress of the Sisters of St. Francis, is to be given yearly and was created to honor someone who uses his or her gifts of time, talent and treasure to transform vision into service.
Mrs. McVicker donates her time, talent and treasure to her community and beyond in many ways.
“She has tirelessly devoted her time to volunteering at All Saints Parish in Rossford where she is a member, with the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and with the Cancer Center at the University of Toledo,” wrote her nominator.
Mrs. McVicker responds to the needs of her community with generosity, determination and seemingly endless energy. Because of that, her husband, Jim McVicker, often refers to her as his very own “Mother Teresa.”
An early experience with disaster relief came in 2005 when she spent two weeks managing a shelter for victims of Hurricane Katrina and then delivered food and water to people in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Rita.
In 2007, the Blanchard River flooded twice and devastated the people of Findlay. As a volunteer with the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Mrs. McVicker was a member of the disaster relief team that twice provided direct aid by means of shelter, food, water and clothing to members of the Findlay community.
Disaster relief is only one of many ways Mrs. McVicker reflects the work of the many Sisters of St. Francis who minister across the U.S. and in Brazil. She also helps with Web site design and maintenance at the many places she volunteers, and promotes volunteerism through Youth Ministry, the American Red Cross and the Cancer Center at the University of Toledo.
Mrs. McVicker is deeply honored to receive the award and even feels a bit unnerved by it.
“I truly feel unworthy,” she says. “I think of the many Joliet Franciscan Sisters I have met over the years, and I know I can’t hold a candle to the good works they do every day.”
The Joliet Franciscans have been providing service to the community and beyond for more than 140 years. They minister in education, child care, elder care, social justice arenas, parish work and holistic health throughout Joliet as well as many other areas of the U.S., and in their missions in Brazil. Through this, the Joliet Franciscans work to promote justice and peace.
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Last Updated on Monday, 22 December 2008 11:12 |
