Save A Lot’s New Hometown Hero Program Shines Spotlight on Local People Doing A Lot of Good

Amanda Mills, South End Street Angels, Louisville, KY

Amanda is meeting people exactly where they are. She provides compassionate support for community members who are un-housed in so many ways such as providing food, emergency shelter, transportation, recovery invitations and a listening ear. Members of the community are proud to have her in the neighborhood and recognize her as a positive light for so many people.

Dawn Snow, Regional Office of Education, Salem, IL

Dawn Snow deserves a gift card to Save A Lot. This is her second year teaching. Last year she taught her preschoolers about food insecurity by reading them books such as “Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando,” a story about the man who invented Ramen noodles to help with food insecurity. She also read them the book, “Saturday at the Food Pantry.” They talked about how some families do not have enough food and why it is important to donate food and to help at food pantries. She also encourages kindness. Last year, her PreK class made Christmas cards and took them to the local nursing home to give to the residents and sing Christmas songs to them.

Janis Adams Kyser, Sequatchie County Dunlap Chamber of Commerce, Dunlap, TN

Janis leads with a servant heart! She focuses on making our community a better place for locals and visitors. She serves on the Truancy Board for Sequatchie County Schools with the role of keeping students in school and out of the court system. She is also the president of the Tennessee Center for Civic Learning and Engagement with the role of providing high quality professional development and resources for educators about civics and how to implement in the classroom to develop competent and responsible students. Janis delivers food to individuals in need, typically purchasing and delivering food to over 5 families per week. Locally, Janis serves as the King Lion for the Dunlap Lions Club, a club that last year distributed food to over 1,850 individuals at Christmas; delivered toys and food to over 550 homes on Christmas Eve.

Jeanne Michon, New Beginnings, Woonsocket, RI

Anyone who knows Jeanne can see first-hand how much she loves the community. Not only does she serve lunch 4 days a week, Jeanne goes out of her way to collaborate with other local organizations, helping not just with a meal, but with other basic needs. Jeanne recently participated in her third Buzz Off (shaving her head) which raises money for children with cancer. She works with local law enforcement encouraging good relationships in and around the city. Jeanne and her team feed feed the homeless and anyone who is in need of a meal Mon-Thurs at Saint James Episcopal Church in Woonsocket. She also provides meals to safe haven on Thursdays, and to the men’s shelter in the winter–often over 400 meals a week. She has been working tirelessly for over 37 years and is always willing to go the extra mile for anyone in need to point them in the right direction.

Kelly Ragan, Susie Volunteer Fire Department, Monticello, KY

Kelly is the Chief of Susie Volunteer Fire located in Monticello, KY. With the department being 100% volunteer, he never receives a dime for his countless hours of hard work he puts in for the community to remain safe. For over 20 years he has done this and never asked for anything in return. He is a true hometown hero! 

Kelsey Cook, RC Light Foundation, Minden, LA

Kelsey deserves this nomination. In 2021 she almost lost her son to bacterial meningitis. She stayed with her son for the 137 days he was in the hospital and every hospital stay/surgery since then. Her son is very medically involved with lots of appointments. Despite this, Kelsey has continued to help other parents be advocates for their children, as well as helping them find resources for their children. Something she always says is, “I did not ask for this life (being a medical momma), but I hope that God allows me to use it to bring hope and light to other families and love on those going through what I have been through.”Even with all of this on Kelsey’s plate she has decided to peruse a Master’s Degree in Business Education and study for the CPA exam.

Marlene Fudge, Rush County Community Assistance, Rushville, IN

Marlene has been a volunteer at the Rush County Food Pantry for several years. She coordinates different organizations in the community to help fill 550 backpacks of food each month that are delivered to our junior high and elementary students to help eliminate food insecurities over the weekend. Marlene donates her time 3 days a week to help stock the shelves at the pantry and distributes food to over 400 families per month. Every month Marlene also helps with our Mobile Pantry, helping to serve over 350 families struggling with food insecurities. Marlene also packs boxes of food for our home deliveries to seniors that are unable to visit the pantry. You will not find anyone more committed to fighting hunger in our community. She is definitely one of a kind.

Nicole Stroik, The Power of 5, Stevens Point, WI

In January of 2020, Nicole started a group called “The Power of 5”. This group raises funds or collects items for at least one organization or individual a month. The basis is if everyone donated $5, together it becomes so powerful. In 2021 this group became an official nonprofit. Over the years they have donated to many local organizations. They are heavy supporters of the Salvation Army and the local “free little pantries”. All the proceeds are 100% donated to the intended recipient, no fees are taken out. Nicole not only created this group, but she has kept it running. She does this all in her spare time, as she works full time and has a family. The town is very lucky to have her leading this organization and she really is a hometown hero.

Renee Jeffords, Joshua’s House, Clare, MI

Renee Jeffords founded Joshua’s House which is a home for pregnant women who have nowhere to go. She places them in Joshua’s house, teaches them ways to save money, she also has a farm where the girls learn cooking skills and helps these women find work. Some are placed in their own homes after being at Joshua’s House. She also aids in helping local people find resources available to them depending on their needs.

Robin Scanlan, The Shepherds Place, Bethel, OH

Robin opened the Shepherds Place for the children of the community to have a place to go after school and during the summer break. They help with the needs of the children and their families as well as the general public. Robin has helped many people within the community with food, household needs, medical assistant needs as well as counseling.

Royce Morrison, Lifepointe Ministries, Titusville, FL

Pastor Morrison has been a constant role model and leader for the past 4 years. He sponsors the Thursday community dinner every week. This involves a dinner, shower and shopping visit in their fully stocked warehouse. Clothes, hygiene items, blankets and other much needed items are given to the less fortunate members of the local community. He’s also the initiator of the only cold night shelter in North Brevard County. He personally took charge of the effort when the local DAV no longer offered it. He created Crew 29, made up of numerous volunteers from other churches and organizations. He has united a large group of people from all walks of life.

Sheri Frank, Project Help of Steuben County, Angola, IN

Without Sheri, Project Help of Steuben County wouldn’t be what it is today. She was hired in 2003 as Executive Director to help better address the growing number of low income families with limited resources. Through networking with existing agencies, Sheri was able to ensure people could get what they need. In 2011, she partnered with the Builders Association to build a larger facility with a resale store to help Project Help become more self-sufficient, a goal we strive to teach our clients. It has regular food days each week and a thrift store that not only helps those in need, but brings in sales to help fund the food bank. She is there day and night helping others, especially during the holidays. So many would be without so much if it weren’t for her.

Stephanie Personaire, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee, MI

Stephanie is a family social worker who has gone over and above her job description to make sure her clients feel safe and have what they need to succeed, helping her clients to grow and thrive. She listens when no one else will, even checking in on former clients long after they have left to make sure they and their families are in good health. Her community acknowledges her for all the hard work she has put in with all her clients.

Suson Bennish Elbert, St. Clair Elementary School., St. Clair, MO

Suson is a preschool teacher that goes above and beyond for everyone in our community. She collects things for first responders (food, drinks, snacks). She also holds a preschool lemonade stand each December where people sell toys, candy and snacks to raise money for backpack programs at school and the food banks. In 2023, she raised more than $6,500. Over the last 18 years of doing this, she’s raised over $75,000 for food pantries. You name it she does it.

Tiffany McQueer, Feed the Kids, Traverse City, MI

Tiffany and her family have served over 320,000 meals for children in need. She also coordinates and donates items from Costco and other businesses to the less fortunate. She also organizes fund raising events so she can continue to provide more and more meals.