CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- They're the people behind the scenes, quietly washing the dishes at a soup kitchen, weeding a community garden, counseling a troubled teen or diagnosing an illness for someone without medical insurance. Their small acts of kindness add up to big differences in the lives of people they help.
Generally self-effacing, these people shrug off compliments and appreciation of their efforts, saying they need no recognition. So who inspires these inspiring people to give so much back to their community?
Feeding the hungry
"Oh instantly, my answer is my mother, Billie Simpson, and her best friend, Jean Pelzel, both deceased," said Jean Simpson, executive director of Manna Meal. "They were truly both such giving people. I pray daily that I can only be half as giving and kind as my mother."
Simpson's mother died 16 years ago, and people in the community continue to tell her what a wonderful influence both her mother and Pelzel had on their lives as Christians. Their work at Christ Church is remembered fondly by many people, Simpson said.
"Charlie Pelzel (Jean's husband) sent me a note the other day telling me how proud these two would have been of the work we are doing at Manna Meal," she said.
Always helping
When asked if he found someone on the Capitol grounds inspiring, House Clerk Greg Gray immediately named Randi Brooks. Even before she retired, Brooks volunteered in numerous activities and always lent a helping hand.
"She does things like go to the Town Center when pillows are on sale," Gray said. "She buys bags of them and gives them to homeless people."
For 31 years, since the first Vandalia Gathering, Brooks helps at West Virginia Division of Culture and History, either as a hostess, at the information desk or manning the desk in the Capitol rotunda. She's active with the Resolve family abuse program at the YWCA, in the Lions Club and Charleston's Citizen Police Academy.
"We provide Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for officers on duty on the holidays," she said.
As a child who grew up in a coal town during World War II, Brooks helped her mother knit warm hats and socks for soldiers, feed indigent families and salvage supplies for the war effort.
"You did not ignore someone with a need. You always gave back," she said. "People needed a lot of help, so we banded together and did what we could. That spirit is not as widespread today, although you still see it in some groups."
Smoothing the paths
As the executive director at Kanawha Pastoral Counseling, Sky Kershner is a minister who counsels. He also teaches at WVU's schools of medicine and social work. He named four local people who inspire him, as well as, at the global level, President Obama.
"Phil Pfister, Ron Sowell, Ric Cochran and Jeanne K. Cochran. Each of them is an amazing person. Each has remarkable gifts (in strength, in song, in connecting and in art) and at the same time, each has managed to clarify his or her ego so that the love usually shines through unimpeded," Kershner said. "Phil was once asked what was the heaviest thing he has ever lifted, his answer was that on some days the hardest thing is getting his own body out of bed."
Kershner became a father later in his life and is thankful for his wife and young children who bring joy and energy into their home. His church is an important influence in his life.
"I am involved in promoting interfaith dialog, understanding, respect and acceptance," he said. "I believe God is bigger than any one religion, and that each religion holds facets of truth about a Mystery that is beyond words. I practice faith as trust: a trust that this is a world of goodness and of love."
Helping people help themselves
Kerri Wade, WVU extension agent in Kanawha County, was drawn to her job because it gives her a chance to provide the public with the resources of a higher education campus. "I thought it was so neat -- I wanted to be part of it," she said.
She's thankful for her husband, children, sisters and parents, although her mother has Alzheimer's and her father has died, and said the unconditional love from her dog is always a day-brightener. Her work motivates her.
"I am inspired by those I help. To see folks learn, grow, make better decisions because of assistance you provided -- that is powerful inspiration to keep going," she said. "It makes you want to improve yourself so you can better help others."
Wade especially enjoys her work training child-care providers through the Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist program. "Child-care providers are wonderful people. They provide love, support and education all day long to children and most don't make over minimum wage," Wade said. "What a dedicated, special group!"
Family tradition
Although she works full time, Ann Garcelon still finds time to direct St. John's Opportunity Shop, where they sell "gently worn" clothes and household goods, but also provide a listening ear for downtrodden customers who just need to talk.
She was drawn to this activity by her mother, Bernice Hosey, who still volunteers there. Garcelon helps out at Manna Meal and worked as a Master Gardener volunteer in the community garden.
Garcelon also serves on the boards of High Rocks, a leadership program for teenage girls in Pocahontas, Greenbrier and Nicholas counties, and the Women's Health Center in Charleston.
"My inspiration to help others comes from my dad -- even though he has been dead for nearly 40 years -- and my mom," she said. "You might say I grew up in a household where helping others was a way of life."
Her father, Bob Hosey, volunteered at West Virginia Tech as the athletic trainer for more than 10 years. He refereed high school football and basketball games. Garcelon's family holidays always included student-athletes who were too far from home to travel. Two days before he died from leukemia, he was doing volunteer work for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati.
After her mom retired from teaching and moved to Charleston in 1981, she had one or more volunteer activities going every day. "I am so thankful and fortunate to still have my mother in my life. She's nearly 92," Garcelon said. "She's my role model, my counselor, my cheerleader and my best friend." She also listed Gene Carte, his sons and many friends for whom she's thankful.
To their good health
When a friend invited pharmacist Barbara Gastineau to volunteer at West Virginia Health Right 25 years ago, Gastineau was immediately impressed with the importance of the facility's mission to provide medical and dental services for people without insurance.
She volunteered as a pharmacist on the spot, and still spends a day or evening there a week, despite her work schedule at Charleston Area Medical Center.
"Without this facility and staff, a lot of people would suffer and not receive any medical care," she said. "We used to serve mainly the homeless, but now we see a lot of working poor people. They are desperate for health care."
Building solid homes
Amy McLaughlin, ReStore director for Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam counties, doesn't have to look far for inspiration. She finds it every day in the employees and volunteers at ReStore.
"They re-created the heart, soul and sales floor of a 40,000-square-foot store. Day in and day out, they work hard to raise money to build Habitat for Humanity homes," she said. "They take pride in their work and in their team and I feel blessed to be a part of it."
Her father, a social worker "by trade and at heart," and her creative schoolteacher mother also set an example by lives spent helping others.
The experiences of her past career perhaps provide the greatest inspiration for McLaughlin's affirming work.
"I have to say, what inspires me the most is not warm and fuzzy. Primarily, memories of my previous career, or as I often call it, my past life, are what inspires me to help others," she said. "During my 13 years in retail management, I traveled constantly, fired a lot of people and made a bunch of money for a few wealthy shareholders.
"But during that time, I acquired strong skills in leadership and teamwork which help me in my career with Habitat for Humanity today. Knowing that I can use my skills in a way that helps people and our community keeps me motivated and very grateful for the opportunities in my life."
McLaughlin also serves on the Charleston Beautification Commission and the East End Main Street Design committee. She was drawn to both organizations because of their aesthetic nature and enjoys the opportunity to make her hometown shine.
Better biking
Community activist and avid biker Dennis Strawn helps keep countless people moving through his work with Mountain State Wheelers Bicycle club and numerous neighborhood and community groups. He's worked to develop safe biking paths in the community and to attach bike racks on the front of all KRT buses.
Strawn is inspired to improve his community, specifically through projects that encourage safe and healthy walking and bicycling.
"I see examples of many people helping others. I have learned from example that drive, persistence and patience pays off. I apply that to what I know and care about, walking and bicycling," he said.
"I do have to admit I am drawn to the underdog, and walking and bicycling as a component within our national transportation plan definitely fits that position."
Strawn joined the West Side Neighborhood Association about nine years ago after moving there. "I liked the focus of some of their work. I was disappointed actually with the neglect of my immediate neighborhood and other areas of the West Side," he said. "A person has choices, they can take their family and leave, like many folks have done or they could get involved. I chose to get involved."
Through his involvement with that organization, he also joined Regional Intergovernmental Council, The West Side Main Street, The Strong Neighborhood Task Force, The Charleston Land Trust, The Charleston Greenways Committee, Friends of the Kanawha Trestle Trail and Bike West Virginia.
Soothing through music and gardens
Myra Dolan is employed by her church, so she gets her fair share of doing good for others. In her down time, she volunteers at Manna Meal, is a tireless worker in and organizer of Manna Meal's community garden, and runs the volunteer music program at Hospice House.
She is grateful for the inspiration of her husband, Adam, who established a small, nonprofit organization called Good Samaritan Foundation after he retired. He sets up a table in front of busy retail stores and asks for donations to help veterans or food pantries.
"He very quietly helps people right on the spot," Dolan said. Sometimes, his requests are met with a sad refusal and an explanation that they need help themselves. He'll ask for details and sometimes ends up helping the people he's asked for a donation.
"He's inspirational to me. He's out there touching lives all day long with the people he talks to and helps," she said. "He's making a difference, just a little bit at a time."
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