l-r, Stephen Newsome presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to Steve Rodgers

By Kathy Moore

Stephen Newsome, who lives in Meldrim, decided about a year ago that Meldrim needed a Community Service Program. He was helping many Seniors around town volunteering on his own.  Then he thought it’d be great to have a program and some help.  So, he contacted the surrounding counties (Effingham, Bryan & Chatham) and began receiving people to perform many different types of tasks around town and even out to Eden.
In addition to the help he got from community service people, a friend started volunteering with him. That particularly enthusiastic volunteer and friend, Steve Rodgers, joined Stephen in his efforts, solely on a volunteer basis. In the past year he has clocked over 150 hours in the program. So, Mr. Newsome gave him an award for Volunteer of the Year.  “For all the help he’s given us this year and for all his service. He’s worked so hard.” Stephen says.
“We do anything they may need done, like yard work, or once we fixed a handicap ramp, we paint and pressure clean houses. We clean the park too and pick up trash in the cemetery.” Stephen said about the many jobs they carry out for the town of Meldrim and its senior residents. “Yea, lots of yard work!” Steve added.
Steve Rodgers was so involved with helping the seniors in the area. Mr. Newsome says there were many times in the last year that he’d call Steve to go help someone from his list and he’d already gone and done whatever needed to be done.  “He didn’t need a set schedule either, he’d just do what was necessary,” Stephen said.
Some chores aren’t just a one-time thing either, Mr. Newsome says. Yard work has to be kept up with... mowing, weeding and then raking leaves of course!  “Steve was just a tremendous help. Most of the time you have to ask somebody to help, but he was always asking, ‘what are we gonna do next?””
Stephen Newsome says he needs more volunteers though.  If you are interested in helping out or need help and want to be put on the list, please give him a call on his cell at 912-661-2248 or visit the website for more information at  www.meldrim.com or email him at Stephen@meldrim.com.
Raised by his grandparents, Stephen says he was raised to believe that if you see somebody who needs help, you go and help them so he started all of this in his Granny’s honor who sadly passed about 3 months ago.
Volunteers and community service helpers can do so much for their community. If you see a need in your town or community for such a program, Stephen Newsome urges you to get involved and make a difference, just like he and Steve Rodgers did.