2024 Volunteer
of the Year
Award Winners
Behind every life changed is someone who CARES
For their heartfelt dedication and selfless service, these outstanding volunteers were nominated and honored as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award recipients. Learn more about these incredible individuals!
Their kindness shines through every food box prepared for a hungry family, echoes in a child’s laughter on the shelter playground, and provides comfort on the hotline when a victim finds safety. They bring joy, build community at fundraising events, and work tirelessly to support the Fayette Cares mission.
We are deeply grateful to these volunteers—and the hundreds of others—who open their hearts to protect families in crisis.
A Profile of Caring .
With deep appreciation, we are proud to present the Most Team Spirited Award to BlueOval SK for their unwavering commitment to service and community engagement.
Groundbreakers in electrical vehicle battery manufacturing, Blue Oval SK is just two years old but their impact on our community has been profound. The BlueOval SK team has shown they are “fully charged” for community caring by regularly volunteering for Fayette Cares. As Sheronda Green, BlueOval SK’s Community Engagement Manager, put it: “Our goal was to be helpful … little did we know, a tour and conversation with Alexandra would lead to a true partnership.”
That partnership quickly took shape when BlueOval SK supervisor Kevin Shatney stepped in with a simple but powerful question: “What do you need? What else can we do?”
What began as a plan to paint all eight shelter units quickly evolved into a weekly volunteer tradition—a commitment to stepping in wherever needed. Kevin and his team didn’t just complete tasks; they built a culture of service, making it clear that Wednesdays at BlueOval SK belonged to Fayette Cares.
Volunteering is a cornerstone of BlueOval SK’s community engagement efforts, and their dedication was evident in everything they did for Fayette Cares. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, they created purple ribbons and marked police vehicles with awareness messages. They supported the shelter by cleaning and painting the shelter units and playground, ensuring a safe and welcoming space for those in need. Their contributions to the High Cotton 5k/1k included donating safety vests and whistles to ensure a successful and safe event. They also assisted in donation sorting, organizing and categorizing large amounts of clothing and apparel for those in need. Additionally, they prepared hygiene kits and emergency supply bags for victims of domestic violence and individuals facing homelessness. Their food distribution efforts included helping with weekly food deliveries to combat hunger in the community. And the list goes on.
What sets BlueOval SK apart is their willingness to listen, serve, and give—not just once, but week after week, month after month. They have not only expanded their involvement but have strengthened their impact, making a real difference in the lives of those we serve.
For their tireless support and incredible team spirit, we extend our deepest gratitude to BlueOval SK. We look forward to growing this partnership and achieving even greater things together.
Congratulations, BlueOval SK, on this well-deserved award!
A Profile of Caring .
At Fayette Cares, we are fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers, but some go above and beyond, setting the standard for leadership, commitment, and heart. This year, we are honored to recognize Marie Holland as our Leadership Excellence Volunteer of the Year!
Marie’s journey with Fayette Cares began a decade ago when she moved to Fayette County and immediately sought ways to give back. She started as a hotline volunteer, offering a lifeline to domestic violence victims. But her service didn’t stop there—she quickly became a champion for volunteerism, inspiring others to join the cause.
Thanks to Marie’s leadership, Somerville Methodist Church has become a cornerstone of support for Fayette Cares, organizing monthly donation drives to meet urgent needs. But her impact extends far beyond collecting supplies—Marie has built a strong volunteer network, leading a team that meets weekly to sort donations and support the Fayette Cares Thrift Shop. If you’ve ever witnessed Marie and her team in action, you know they bring not just hard work, but also joy and laughter to everything they do!
Her dedication is truly a family affair. She even recruited her husband, Clinton, to assist in collecting and sorting the tons of donated clothing and apparel from our 24-hour drop boxes. (And in true Marie fashion, she’s still recruiting—volunteers are always needed on Mondays and Thursdays!)
Marie’s generosity shines in many ways. On Saturdays, you’ll often find her at the thrift shop, working alongside Patsy and playfully taking on the role of “fashion coordinator” as she helps customers find the perfect outfits. She sees the shop not just as a store, but as a vital community resource that supports our programs and helps those in need.
If you attended our Roaring ‘20s Gala, you likely admired the stunning auction baskets—many of which were beautifully curated and crafted by Marie. And during the holiday season, she brought festive cheer to our shelter, handcrafting the gorgeous holiday wreaths that adorned our gates and fences. These thoughtful details remind our clients that they are cared for and loved.
Marie often says that moving to Somerville was a blessing because she found a small-town community where she could make a difference. The truth is, Marie is the blessing—to our organization, to those we serve, and to everyone who has had the privilege of working alongside her.
Please join us in celebrating our Leadership Excellence Volunteer of the Year, Marie Holland!
A Profile of Caring .
We shine a spotlight on a volunteer whose dedication unfolds quietly, behind the scenes, yet whose impact is deeply felt. It is our privilege to honor Gina Harden as the Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer of the Year.
For years, Gina has been a steadfast force on the domestic violence hotline, offering a lifeline to those in crisis. With every call she answers, she provides safety, understanding, and a path forward—often becoming the first voice of hope for survivors.
But Gina’s impact doesn’t stop there. She has taken new hotline volunteers under her wing, mentoring them with patience and wisdom so that every person who steps into this role is fully prepared to offer compassionate care.
Gina humbly says that she works not from a place of strength, but from fear—the fear of knowing what it’s like to have no safety net. Yet, her strength is undeniable. It takes courage to face the darkness of domestic violence, to be the voice on the other end of the line when someone is desperate for help.
With her background as a life coach and mediator, Gina plays a powerful role in helping survivors rebuild their lives. She doesn’t just listen—she empowers. She doesn’t just respond—she guides survivors toward healing and independence.
Beyond the hotline, Gina works to spread awareness, hosting informational booths at outreach events. She understands that knowledge is power—that sometimes, the right information in the right hands can mean the difference between hope and despair, between danger and safety.
Her dedication to Fayette Cares runs deep. She has said, “Fayette Cares gives us all an opportunity to show love, support, and understanding … with our time, talents, and resources. Our community is only as strong as we are willing to make it, and when we help improve the lives around us, we help create a better community.”
Fun fact: Gina is a beekeeper! She admires how bees work together as a community, protecting one another and ensuring the success of the colony. In many ways, she embodies that same spirit—lifting others up, working as part of a team, and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Gina’s work may often take place behind the scenes, but we want to bring her center stage. Join us in celebrating our Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer of the Year, Gina Harden!
A Profile of Caring .
It is our honor to recognize a volunteer whose heart, resilience, and dedication have made a tremendous impact.
Kris Locke’s journey to becoming a Fayette Cares volunteer is not just about generosity—it’s deeply personal.
As a child, she was one of the little girls who wouldn’t have had Christmas gifts if not for an Angel Tree program—just like the one she now supports through Fayette Cares.
As an adult, she remembers standing in front of an empty refrigerator, too ashamed to ask for help. And when she finally did, people showed up—filling her kitchen and her heart.
Her compassion is also shaped by a painful childhood memory. She recalls standing frozen at a window, watching in horror as her 6’4” uncle struck her much smaller aunt, knocking her unconscious with a single blow. She remembers the helplessness, the uncertainty of whether she’d get in trouble for calling the police. Instead, she locked herself in her bedroom and cried, carrying that vision with her for a lifetime.
These life-shaping moments have fueled Kris’s passion for Fayette Cares. She doesn’t just volunteer—she understands. She understands the fear of instability, the pain of hunger, and the terror of domestic violence. And she channels that understanding into action.
Kris has become a true champion of service, leading with passion and dedication. She has played a key role in the Fayette Cares Plant Sale, organized the first-ever Bourbon Trail Putting Contest, and spearheaded the search for auction donations. Her commitment extends beyond events—she personally delivered Law Enforcement Appreciation Day gifts and aid supplies to police partners, ensuring those in crisis received vital support by distributing motel vouchers, emergency food and hygiene backpacks, especially before winter storms. Without hesitation, she and her husband purchased space heaters for families with no heat, demonstrating her unwavering compassion.
In her Piperton Preserve neighborhood, Kris is affectionately known as the “Fayette Cares Lady” for her tireless efforts. She has rallied neighbors to adopt children through the Christmas Angel Tree program, collected food donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring food drive, and partnered with Professional Women in Building to construct shelving for shelter supply storage. Her generosity and leadership continue to make a lasting impact on those in need.
Kris’s enthusiasm is contagious. She doesn’t just show up—she shows up with her whole heart. Ready to serve, to uplift, and to inspire others. Thanks to her, many more people are now actively engaged in supporting the Fayette Cares mission.
Kris’s journey is one of strength, resilience, and incredible empathy. She is living proof that hardship can be turned into hope—and into a force for good.
Please help us congratulate our Community Champion Volunteer Award winner, Kris Locke!
