2025 Volunteer
of the Year
Award Winners
Behind every life changed is someone who CARES
As Fayette Cares celebrates 40 years of service, compassion, and community, we are honored to recognize this year’s Volunteer Award recipients.
These individuals and groups were nominated and selected for their meaningful, selfless contributions to families in crisis and to the mission of Fayette Cares. Their caring is seen in every food box prepared for a hungry family, heard in the laughter of children finding safety at the shelter, and felt on the hotline when someone reaches out and is met with hope.
They show up at fundraising events, behind the scenes, and in moments of urgent need, building community, strengthening families, and helping sustain this work year after year.
For four decades, volunteers have been the heartbeat of Fayette Cares. We are deeply grateful to these honorees, and to the hundreds more who give their time, talents, and hearts to protect and support our neighbors.
Click on the images below to learn more about these remarkable volunteers and the stories behind their service.
A Profile of Caring .
Fayette Cares is proud to recognize Amanda Anderson as the recipient of the Leadership Excellence Award, honoring a volunteer whose steady presence, thoughtful leadership, and willingness to say “yes” elevate everything she touches.
Amanda sets the bar high. When Amanda is involved, things run smoothly. Details are handled. Calm appears in the middle of chaos.
Plant Sale. Golf Tournament. High Cotton 5K. Gala. If there’s a Fayette Cares event, chances are you’ve seen Amanda in action, gracefully rolling with the punches while the rest of us quietly (or not so quietly) sweat. And yes, we sweat a lot. Amanda just does it with poise.
This year, she went even further, stepping in to help with Christmas food and toy distributions and once again proving that when there’s a need, she’s ready to jump in. She even recruited her husband to help, and judging by how moved he was, we suspect he may be hooked.
When SNAP benefits were disrupted and families faced sudden uncertainty, Amanda was among the first to reach out and donate, asking the simple but powerful question: “How can I help? What do you need?” That instinct, to step forward without hesitation, defines her leadership.
By profession, Amanda is an instructional designer who has spent her career helping people learn, grow, and discover new skills. She’s eager to share that expertise with Fayette Cares clients, helping them build tools for long-term stability and success, work we’re excited to continue developing together.
Amanda also brings joy wherever she goes. An accomplished dancer, she’s even taught salsa lessons and wowed audiences alongside her husband during our Roaring 20s Gala showcase. Whether she’s working an event, connecting with fellow volunteers, or dancing the night away, she treasures the human moments, the conversations, the shared purpose, and the immediate impact of helping neighbors in need.
Having chosen this community and made it home, Amanda believes deeply in giving back in every way possible: time, resources, energy, and compassion. She values that Fayette Cares focuses not on quick fixes, but on true stabilization, helping families move forward with dignity.
Amanda has said that if she could wave a wand, she’d make organizations like ours unnecessary, because her dream is a world where every family has love, stability, and resources. Until that day comes, we are incredibly grateful that she chooses to stand with Fayette Cares.
We thank Amanda for her excellence, her heart, and her leadership. She makes this work better, and makes all of us better.
A Profile of Caring .
This award honors a volunteer who does more than show up, someone who brings others along, lifts people higher, and reminds us that community is something we build together.
Lauren Daniel is that volunteer.
Lauren serves with energy, generosity, and a deep sense of responsibility for the people we serve. She doesn’t volunteer alone. She brings her mom, her husband, and her friends, because for Lauren, service is a shared experience, and she makes sure it’s a joyful one.
During the Christmas Angel Tree program, when more than 80 children were still waiting to be adopted just days before Christmas, Lauren sprang into action. She rallied support through social media, adding her voice to others who refused to let a child be forgotten. Within 72 hours, more than 200 children had gifts, and every child was adopted.
But Lauren didn’t stop at awareness. She personally picked up and delivered donations. Her husband helped turn Milano’s Pizza in Eads into a toy drop-off location, and Lauren made significant personal contributions of her own.
She regularly purchases hygiene items, clothing, and supplies for the shelter, responding directly to the needs of families in crisis.
When Fayette Cares needed help picking up clothing donations from a box in Oakland, work that is often dirty, frustrating, and unseen, Lauren stepped in without hesitation. And when she saw donations that compromised the dignity of those we serve, she spoke up. Through an honest and thoughtful social media message, she advocated for respectful giving and responsible use of limited resources. That kind of advocacy reflects true ownership and deep care.
Lauren is also no stranger to hard work behind the scenes. When the thrift shop needed a massive inventory purge, she was there, sorting tens of thousands of items, and yes, she recruited her mom again. Teamwork is kind of her thing.
You’ll also find Lauren as part of the golf tournament registration crew, helping with tournament meals, and supporting events alongside her husband Marco, whose generosity through Milano’s Pizza in Eads has helped fuel more than one Fayette Cares effort.
As needs grow and funding tightens, Lauren continues to step up, now helping with thrift shop promotions and social media to ensure sales support the mission.
Just as powerfully, Lauren is a champion of the people of Fayette Cares. In thoughtful, personal messages, she celebrates staff and volunteers alike, honoring Mrs. Patsy as living proof that survival can become legacy, Phil for restoring people as much as he repairs things, Alexandra for making each person feel like the most important person in the world, Melody for being a superhero who makes behind-the-scenes magic happen, and so many others. Lauren sees people. She values them. She loves them out loud. And that mutual care is what makes Fayette Cares not just an organization, but a family.
Lauren once shared that volunteering with Fayette Cares permanently changed how she sees her community. For her, it’s not just about belonging, it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.
Her life motto is simple: leave people better than you found them. And she lives it every day.
Lauren, shows up, bring others, gives with intention, advocates with courage, and serves with her whole heart.
We are honored to recognize he as our Most Team-Spirited Volunteer and grateful for the love she brings to Fayette Cares.
A Profile of Caring .
Fayette Cares is honored to recognize Lisa Tracy, a volunteer whose quiet, faithful service has helped power this mission for nearly 30 years.
Lisa’s impact is woven throughout Fayette Cares, and she has never walked this path alone. Her husband John, son Johnny, and daughter Claire have all joined her in service, reflecting a truth we see again and again: the most powerful volunteers bring their loved ones along.
If you’ve attended a Fayette Cares Plant Sale, you’ve seen Lisa at the checkout table. If you’ve volunteered at a golf tournament, chances are she was part of the registration team. And if there’s been a gala, whether in person or virtual, Lisa has been there. Her presence is steady, reliable, and deeply generous.
What many don’t see is the year-round work that happens far beyond event day. Lisa and John open their home and property to serve as the growing grounds for donated plants used in the annual Plant Sale. What began years ago as a modest $300 fundraiser has, through their care and commitment—along with the support of Fayette County Master Gardeners and other volunteers—blossomed into a nearly $20,000 annual event that directly supports Fayette Cares’ mission.
After retiring, Lisa leaned in even more. She became a weekly donation sorter, handling tens of thousands of clothing items destined for families in need or for sale in the thrift shop to fund services. She also understands the heartbreak of unusable donations and takes time to educate and guide the community so that every contribution truly helps and preserves dignity.
Lisa and her family are also a constant presence during Christmas food distributions and Angel Tree programs, helping organize and distribute food and gifts with care. As part of the hospitality team, Lisa keeps volunteers fueled and encouraged, often with her award-winning baked goods (yes, multiple Delta Fair wins).
This family exemplifies what caring looks like in action. John, a former board member and award-winning volunteer himself, and Lisa are also steady financial supporters who understand that this work requires hands, hearts, and resources.
For decades of behind-the-scenes service, for leading by example, and for inspiring others to give their best, Lisa Tracy represents the very heartbeat of Fayette Cares.
It is our honor to recognize her with the Behind the Scenes Award.
A Profile of Caring .
Fayette Cares is proud to recognize John DeLockery, a volunteer whose talents, generosity, and heart have left a lasting mark on our organization and our community.
As president of the Tri-State Woodcrafters Club, John has an extraordinary gift for bringing people together and turning skill into service. Through his leadership, he has inspired fellow woodcrafters, along with friends and family, to share their craftsmanship in ways that touch nearly every corner of Fayette Cares.
John’s handiwork is everywhere. From beautifully crafted crates, charcuterie boards, wine caddies, coasters, 5K medallions, and awards podium steps, to a tabletop whiskey barrel created for our gala and even a cardboard recycling crate—each piece reflects care, creativity, and purpose. His work has elevated events, strengthened fundraising efforts, and added lasting value to the mission.
But John’s impact extends far beyond the workshop. He operates audio for events, ensures traffic flow and safety at the High Cotton 5k, assists with equipment setup at festivals, and regularly picks up donations from drop boxes. When help is needed, John is there, often before he’s even asked.
Service is a family affair for John as well. He has brought his son, professional dancer Matt DeLockery, into Fayette Cares events, sharing talent and joy through a Roaring 20s Showcase and Farm to Table line dance lessons that brought people together in celebration and connection.
John often shares his favorite saying: “You never know when you are the answer to someone else’s prayer.” He believes Fayette Cares fills that role for many, and through his own service, he helps ensure that answer is always there.
John’s example reminds us that creativity, generosity, and dedication—when combined—can strengthen a community in ways we may never fully measure.
For his craftsmanship, leadership, unwavering heart, and the countless ways he makes Fayette Cares stronger, we are honored to recognize John DeLockery with the Community Champion Award.
A Profile of Caring .
Fayette Cares is honored to recognize the Mu Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a group whose commitment, energy, and leadership have made a lasting difference for the families we serve.
From the very beginning of their partnership with Fayette Cares, the members of Mu Zeta Zeta have taken the time to understand community needs and respond with meaningful action. They have participated in Domestic Violence Awareness Month presentations and activities, showing up not only as volunteers, but as informed advocates committed to making a difference.
Year after year, the chapter has been a strong supporter of the High Cotton 5k/1k, hosting spirited cheer stations that energize runners and sponsoring the race to help ensure critical services remain available to families in crisis.
Their leadership also extends into direct support for our shelter. Through annual donation drives, the chapter collects pillows, food, and essential supplies, helping ensure that every individual and family who comes through our doors is met with care, comfort, and dignity.
Behind the scenes, the Mu Zeta Zeta Chapter has served as the backbone setup team for our Forks & Corks event, bringing reliability, teamwork, and enthusiasm to the work that makes successful events possible.
In every effort, this chapter demonstrates what leadership with heart truly looks like, combining time, energy, and compassion to strengthen Fayette Cares and the broader community.
For their commitment, thoughtful engagement, and leadership in action, Fayette Cares is proud to present the Leadership Excellence Award to the Mu Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
A Profile of Caring .
Sometimes the volunteer who lifts everyone’s spirits doesn’t speak at all, he shows up with four legs and a wagging tail.
Boots joins his owner, Sherry Milholland, during clothing donation sorting days, and the moment he walks into the room, everything shifts. There’s a wiggle. A friendly greeting. Smiles appear. Stress eases. The work suddenly feels lighter.
Boots reminds us that compassion doesn’t always come in grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like steady presence, gentle energy, and unconditional friendliness, exactly when it’s needed most.
Last year, Fayette Cares introduced a Pet Pass for the 5k/1k, inviting participants to walk or run alongside their four-legged companions. It was joyful and fun, but it also carried deeper meaning. Pets are sometimes used by abusers as tools of control — threatened or harmed to keep victims from leaving unsafe situations. That reality makes moments of animal companionship, comfort, and safety especially powerful.
Boots represents the very best of that truth. He offers warmth without words, calm without conditions, and connection without judgment. In spaces where the work can be heavy, he brings lightness. In moments of routine service, he creates moments of care.
Boots shows us that healing can come from the smallest acts, and that caring, quite simply, is contagious.
For the comfort he brings, the joy he spreads, and the reminder that love often shows up on four legs, we are proud to recognize Boots with an Honorable Mention in our Profiles in Caring.
