Local Aid in the news

Local Aid Volunteer Honored by Chamber

The Junction City-Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce selected Local Aid volunteer Herminio "Duck" Lopez for its 2009 Distinguished Service Nomination. Duck was honored, along with other local volunteer award winners, at the Chamber's annual banquet at Shadow Hills Country Club on November 12, 2009. The story follows:

The Tri-County News

JUNCTION CITY, Oregon (November 12, 2009) --

The Distinguished Service Nomination honors community volunteers who have shown outstanding volunteer service in a particular area, usually working primarily for one project over a period of time.

Herminio “Duck” Lopez of Junction City received the Distinguished Service Nomination for his continuous support at the Junction City Local Aid office. Local Aid helps people with basic necessities such as food, utility payments, drugs, clothing and bus tokens. Duck greets people coming into the office for help and assists them with paper work. He also oversees trucks delivering food for the pantry and handles inventory.

Susan Jones, director of Local Aid, nominated Duck because “he goes above and beyond the call of duty,” and has done so for three years. “As most volunteers come and go, Duck stepped up and took the initiative to do more,” she said. “Not only does Duck do an incredible job, but Duck volunteers out of the kindness of his heart.”

What amazes Jones most about Duck is that he’s a Local Aid client himself. Despite being disabled, living on a fixed income and needing help himself sometimes, Duck still manages to contribute about 20 hours every week to help others who are in the same position or worse off than he is. Duck also finds time to help at the new Community Services Center. Duck said he volunteers to give back to the community. “This makes my life complete,” he said. “I enjoy this. I really do.”