Jerry and Helga Bell Receive MRC’s Bob Over Community Award
Each year Mountain Resource Center honors a volunteer with the Bob Over Community Award. The award is a symbolic legacy in the recipient’s honor given in the spirit of the recipient’s commitment and work towards supporting our mountain community through “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”
Although MRC is grateful to have numerous hard-working and dedicated volunteers from which to choose from for the award, Jerry and Helga Bell were obvious selections for the 2011 Bob Over Community Award. Criteria for the award stipulates that the recipient must have lived in the community for at least two years and contribute to the community as self-motivated, dedicated, creative leaders. Additionally, the recipients must have enhanced, improved or positively affected the overall quality of life in the community. Jerry and Helga fulfill each criterion with tremendous devotion and care for our community.
In addition to volunteering many hours for MRC, Jerry and Helga also volunteer for the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross as Disaster Action Team Captains where they are the first members from the Red Cross to respond to disasters, such as a house fire, in the Jefferson, Park, Clear Creek and Gilpin County areas. They are also Mass Care Team members, helping staff shelters and providing other services for large evacuations anywhere in the Mile High Chapter area.
The staff at MRC offered heartfelt comments about the time and energy Jerry and Helga give to MRC:
“Jerry and Helga are phenomenal volunteers and have supported us in countless ways! They are a part of every MRC event as our right-hand people, providing help at our food drives, school supplies drive, the annual Holiday Party and many more. I always can count on their steady presence to help troubleshoot any unforeseen event. Helga is at MRC every week as a telephone advocate, helping clients with referrals and support. For our food pantry expansion, Jerry helped us with the planning and design, as well as building all of the shelving in the storage area, designing a welcoming area for clients to shop for food and creating an office space for Jayne, our food pantry manager. He also built and painted a wall and helped us to shop for freezers and refrigerators for the pantry. Jerry and Helga bring their incredible work ethic, skills, materials, generosity and passion for helping people to whatever task is needed. We are so fortunate to have them as part of our team. They quietly give to our community in a way that has truly inspired me and my coworkers. Thank you, Jerry and Helga, for all you do!”
Mary Alice Cohen, Program Director
“I have worked in several capacities with Jerry and Helga. Jerry is always my ‘fall back guy’ and he is always there, many times I don't even have to ask him. Jerry has completely organized our storage unit. Now it is a wonderful show piece of Jerry’s handy work. Helga is the driving force through thick and thin, always there for the Holiday Party and anything else that needs to be done. I don't have to ask for her help, her inner radar just knows what we need. I enjoy them both immensely and I particularly love Helga’s zest for life!”
Jill Lovell, Workforce Center Specialist and Thrift Store Manager
“Jerry and Helga were two of the first people I met upon working at Mountain Resource Center. I was so impressed with their dedication of service to MRC and their sincerity of heart. They continue to amaze me with everything they do!”
Jayne Norton, Food Pantry Manager
"Helga shows such great care and compassion for our clients while working with them. She is always ready to take on extra hours to make sure needs are being met through her work as a telephone advocate at MRC. Jerry is always ready with a hammer in his hand and a plan in his head! He is a great help when it comes to the logistics of the 9Cares Colorado Shares Food Drive and our many other events.”
Gail Ciepiela, Community Support Services Manager
Perishable Food Items Needed
The Food Pantry at Mountain Resource Center is in need of food times, in particular perishable foods. Please consider donating the following:
Perishables:
milk
butter
eggs
fresh fruits and vegetables.
We also need:
paper towels
toilet paper
canned fruit
mustard
ketchup
sugar
pet food
canned juice
coffee
coffee filters
winter baby clothes
Enfamil baby formula
If you know of families in need, please refer them to the MRC Food Pantry at 11030 Kitty Drive. For more information, call 303-838-7552. Food Pantry hours are:
Monday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday: 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thank you!
