Executive Director Receives Honor

Mayor and City Council celebrated the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers of all ages who work tirelessly to help Gaithersburg remain a vibrant, compassionate community.

April was Volunteer Appreciation Month. The official proclamation was issued at the Mayor and City Council Meeting on April 7, 2014.

Linda Hanson, Executive Director of Gaithersburg HELP accepted a certificate of appreciation from the Mayor at the official proclamation ceremony of Volunteer Appreciation Month on April 7th.

The proclamation highlights impressive statistics about volunteerism in Gaithersburg:

• Gaithersburg HELP annually provides food to more than 2,500 City residents and has operated solely with volunteers for its entire 40 year history.
• The Upper Montgomery Assistance Network (UMAN) provides emergency eviction and utility cut off prevention and counsel to City residents thanks to volunteers who log in excess of 1,700 hours annually.
• The all-volunteer effort of the Lord’s Table Soup Kitchen utilizes more than 300 volunteers logging 16,000 plus hours a year.

More than 375 people volunteer as coaches for City sports programs; more than 150 volunteers work with the Arts & Events programs, and 250 work with the Youth Services division. There are more than 70 instructors and office assistants volunteering at the Gaithersburg Upcounty Senior Center; more than 200 people volunteer each year for the Holiday Giving Program & the Gaithersburg Book Festival, and there are currently 150 volunteers serving on City boards, commissions and advisory committees.