Abington Journal

Waverly Community House names Deena Richmond Volunteer of the Year

WAVERLY — The Waverly Community House honored 2018 Lackawanna Trail graduate Deena Richmond with its Volunteer of the Year Award during its annual meeting June 4.

The award is given to someone who best exemplifies the spirit of service and tradition of excellence that can be found in all Comm volunteers and at all Comm events. Merissa Garrison and Nick Colombo, last year’s Volunteers of the Year, were on hand to present the award to Richmond.

Richmond started her journey at The Comm as a Comm camper. When she was old enough, she served as a Comm Camp Counselor in Training (seventh to 10th graders) and, because of her leadership skills and the need for an additional Camp Counselor, was promoted to counselor in advance of the usual time. This summer she will serve in the position of head counselor.

In addition to her involvement at summer camp, as soon as she was able, Richmond began volunteering at children’s events like the Family Halloween Party, Breakfast with Santa and the Comm Square Fair where she took on any task assigned with a smile.

According to Alexandra Johnson and Kaylee Cummings (organizers of the events) “whenever we needed a smart, competent and reliable volunteer, we called Deena. She is always the first to show up and the last to leave, asking, ‘Do you need anything else?’”

As head counselor at this summer’s Comm Camp, Richmond will continue to display her willingness to help and quiet competence which she’ll take with her in the fall as she moves on to the next phase of her young life at Point Park University in Pittsburgh.

In addition to the Volunteer of the Year Award, Executive Director Maria Wilson presented Alexandra “Peanie” Johnson with the Gertrude Coursen Children’s Award for her outstanding leadership as director of The Comm’s After School and summer Comm Camp programs. Johnson is only the second individual to receive this prestigious award – the first being Richmond’s Aunt Liz, who received the honor in 2009 for her many years of service as Comm Camp director.

The Waverly Community House has volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. To find out more, contact the Waverly Community House at 570-586-8191, extension 5. The Waverly Community House is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization located at 1115 North Abington Road in Waverly.

Deena Richmond, a 2018 Lackawanna Trail grad, was selected as Volunteer of the Year Award by the Waverly Community House.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_ABJ-Waverly-Volunteer.jpg.optimal.jpgDeena Richmond, a 2018 Lackawanna Trail grad, was selected as Volunteer of the Year Award by the Waverly Community House. Submitted photo