By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
News editor
 

A walking stick replaced a rake for Sharon Neuvirth July 17 when she was honored as Volunteer of the Year for Hood River County by the United Way of the Columbia.

Neuvirth was praised for her numerous hours of service over more than 10 years to the American Red Cross.

United Way recipient agencies gathered with board and council members from Hood River, Wasco and Klickitat and Skamania counties for the annual agency social, at Best Western Hood River Inn.

In thanks, Neuvirth and two other honored volunteers received walking sticks along with certificates from United Way. Goldendale’s Jerry Huck, of Volunteer Chore Services, received the Klickitat honor for his work refurbishing computers and training developmentally disabled people on computer use. Patsy Warner of The Dalles Senior Meals program earned the Wasco County award for regularly helping serve meals.

Neuvirth oversees volunteer training, teaches CPR classes and helps with supplies and logistics, according to Hannah Settje, Mountain River Red Cross chapter coordinator.

“She’ll do almost anything that is asked of her,” Settje said. “I can’t say where our organization would be without Sharon,” she said. When emergencies happen locally or farther afield, Neuvirth devotes many hours to the chapter, along with keeping up with her own job, Settje said.

Neuvirth, until recently the groundskeeper at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, announced Tuesday that she has accepted a full-time position with the Red Cross in Pendleton.

At Tuesday’s social, United Way board member Marilyn Roth handed out checks to agency recipients, totaling $182,000.

“For a first year, we are thrilled to be able to do that,” she said.

This was the first such gathering for the Gorge-wide agency since its reorganization a year ago. The three United Way councils combined to form one larger agency to enhance fund-raising abilities and reduce staff and operations costs.

“It is very exciting to have you all here and express what a great year all three councils had,” Roth said.