FORT MONROE, Va - Volunteers are oftentimes the unsung heroes of the military community. Day after day, they eagerly tackle a lot of tough jobs for which there is no financial compensation - only a nod here and there, accompanied by the occasional "thank you."
Every year, Fort Monroe takes its acknowledgement of volunteers one step further by hosting a reception in their honor. The most recent of these ceremonies occurred on April 22 at the installation's Bay Breeze Community Center.
The program acknowledged the contributions of 705 volunteers here. Not all attended the reception, but many who did were called up one by one to receive certificates and other prizes.
The defining moment of the annual program is the announcement of the Volunteer of the Year. It's a lot like the Academy Awards; many possible nominees but nobody knows the winner's name. It starts with the reading of a narrative that describes the individual's contributions, and then the big reveal ... the 2009 "Oscar" goes to Army Community Services volunteer, Kathleen Hobbs.
As an accredited financial counselor at ACS, Hobbs contributed 1,100 hours of volunteer service last year. Much of that time was spent assisting Soldiers and their family members with budget management.
"When you give of yourself, you not only help others but also enrich your own life," Hobbs said. "When I hear back from a Soldier or family member I've counseled - how they are doing and the difference I've made in their life - it makes every minute I've spent at ACS worthwhile."
She said she feels honored to have been selected Volunteer of the Year.
"ACS has such a neat group of ladies; to just be a part of (their team) is great. This is really the icing on the cake. I wouldn't trade my time here for anything in the world."
Last year, Hobbs received a National Military Family Association fellowship to become an accredited financial counselor. She has honed her skills working with Beverly Nicholson, the lead financial counselor at ACS, for the past year.
Although Hobbs holds a bachelor's degree in cartography, and considered the financial counseling business to be on the "opposite end of the spectrum," she believes she has found her niche.
"It opened a door that I didn't know was there," she said. "It has helped me as well as other people. What's strange is that I don't know what I did before this."
The Hobbs family will PCS this summer to Kirkland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. Kathleen has already been hired to work with MHN Government Services in their financial readiness campaign.
"Leaving is bittersweet," Hobbs noted. "I have enjoyed the experiences I've had here, and my goal is to keep giving back to the (military) community."
Fort Monroe volunteers racked up some commendable statistics during 2008. According to figures maintained by ACS, they donated 30,395 hours. If those were paid hours at an average of $19.72 each, it would come out to $599,389.40.
Also, Fort Monroe's oldest volunteer is Mary McFerrin, age 90 and the youngest is Garrett Kakel, age 6.
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