Camp Humphreys volunteers save millions in labor cost

By Sameria Zavala, USAG-H Public AffairsApril 28, 2019

Camp Humphreys volunteers save millions in labor cost
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Camp Humphreys volunteers save millions in labor cost
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The Army Community Service, along with Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation, hosted the celebration of Camp Humphreys volunteers during the 2019 Volunteer of the Year ceremony, April 19.

Last year, more than 1,400 volunteers served over 88 thousand hours on Humphreys, equating to over $2 million in savings on labor expenses.

"Volunteerism contributes to the overall morale and readiness of our USAG-Humphreys community," said Lindsay Ejnik Hermann, Army Community Service Volunteer Corps coordinator and Army Family Action Plan program manager.

"This ceremony offers an opportunity to distinguish those outstanding volunteers, who were nominated from personnel on this campus and the surrounding community," she said.

The panel selected six of the 65 nominations, each representing different individual categories: active duty, civilian employee, family member, retiree, youth and Korean National.

"It was a tough decision for the panel to select the winners; however, after careful consideration and score-based review, we selected volunteers who made a meaningful impact on the community," said Hermann.

Eighth Army Deputy Commanding General for Operations Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Donahoe, was the guest speaker at the event. He spoke on the importance of volunteer roles and thanked them for their service.

"The strength of Army communities, especially in overseas locations, like Camp Humphreys, truly rests in the talents and contributions of its volunteers," he said. "To you, our volunteers, by serving our community far from home, you are essential to our community and the well-being of our Soldiers, civilians and Family members. Your efforts truly have been outstanding."

VOY winner, Sgt. 1st Class Sh'Voda Gregory, the 8th Army Master Resiliency Training program manager, won the award for his volunteering accomplishments as a Humphreys High School football, basketball and track coach.

"I would like for the Humphreys community to know that being a volunteer, and the giving your time, is one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone else," he said. "Volunteering means that you're giving something of yourself to someone -- without wanting or expecting anything in return.

"The time you take to help someone, may make a difference in how that person's day is going, or make a difference in their week. It may even have an impact in that person's life in the future. That is the power of volunteering," he added.