Celebrating Volunteer Impact: How Giving Back Builds Stronger Communities

by | Apr 1, 2025 | Community Initiatives, Volunteer Opportunities

Celebrating Volunteer Impact: How Giving Back Builds Stronger Communities

The Power of Giving Back

In a world filled with challenges, volunteers have the power to bring us together and make a lasting difference. Celebrating volunteer impact means honoring those who share their time, talents, and compassion to build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. 

Volunteer recognition is a vital part of showing appreciation for the invaluable contributions of volunteers in our community. Whether it’s lending a hand at a local food pantry, mentoring youth, or participating in community cleanups, volunteering is about much more than just giving—it’s about sharing, growing, and creating a positive change in our community.

The Heartbeat of Strong Communities

When people come together to volunteer, they create lasting positive change. Small acts of kindness add up to something greater, fostering a sense of community pride and connection. Volunteering is the heartbeat of strong communities, generating waves of good that spread throughout neighborhoods and beyond.

    Meeting Local Needs

    From distributing food with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Highland Food Pantry to supporting local shelters through WATTS, volunteers are essential to keeping our communities resilient. Community volunteer opportunities address immediate needs and provide hope to those who need it most. The compassion and dedication of volunteers make an impact that reverberates across lives and generations.

    Providing Inclusive Volunteer Opportunities

    Local governments and nonprofit organizations can help everyone get involved by creating diverse volunteer programs. The Volunteer Action Center at Our Health makes it easy to find opportunities that match your schedule and interests.

    Whether you want to dedicate a few hours or take on a long-term project, there’s a place for you to make a difference. Consider volunteering with Wheels for Wellness or Concern Hotline to support vital services in our community.

    Building a Supportive Volunteer Community

    To maximize impact, it’s essential to support volunteers with training, resources, and volunteer recognition. Our Health’s Volunteer Action Center does just that—creating an environment where volunteers feel valued and motivated to continue giving back. By nurturing a supportive network, we ensure that volunteers have positive and fulfilling experiences.

    Spotlight on the Volunteer Action Center

    The Volunteer Action Center (VAC) at Our Health connects passionate volunteers with local nonprofits that need support. Whether you’re looking to make a short-term commitment or build long-lasting relationships through service, the VAC offers meaningful community volunteer opportunities tailored to your skills and passions. By facilitating these connections, the VAC helps create positive change while celebrating volunteer impact throughout our community. 

    Ready to get matched to a volunteer opportunity? Sign up today!

    Join Us & Celebrate Our Volunteers

    In recognition of the incredible volunteers who make our community a better place, Our Health is hosting a Volunteer Celebration on our campus GreenSpace on Friday, April 11th, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Enjoy food, drinks, music, gifts, and a program of gratitude for those in attendance. Stop by, say hello, and join us in celebrating the impact of volunteering!

    Volunteer Celebration Flyer

    Wrapping Up: Make a Difference Today

    Celebrating volunteer impact means recognizing the power of community service to build connections and uplift lives. When we come together to serve, we create vibrant, supportive, and joyful places for ourselves and others. Even small acts of kindness can have a powerful ripple effect, inspiring more good deeds and fostering a sense of belonging. 

    Ready to make an impact? Get involved through the Volunteer Action Center and help strengthen our community today!

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    Daniel Rose

    Volunteer Action Center Coordinator

    Daniel Rose joined Our Health as the Volunteer Action Center Coordinator in 2012. Mr. Rose came to Our Health with a wealth of experience in volunteer leadership, public speaking, and marketing and public relations. In 2015 he was promoted to Director of Operations, managing all aspects of campus buildings and grounds work and supervising all maintenance and custodial staff members.

     His past experience includes 16 years in the construction industry including owning and operating Rose Construction, Inc., specializing in stucco, tile and stone work. He has his Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Theology with a minor in Counseling from the Nazarene Bible College, and served as an Associate and Lead Pastor while in Colorado. He has led many teams of volunteers during mission trips to several countries in Africa. On one mission trip in 2001, while employed with Global Samaritans, Dan led a crew of volunteers to build two orphanages, a school and a visitor’s center in Zambia. 

    Rose and his family moved to Winchester in 2009 from Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Dan joined the non-profit organization RPJ Housing in 2009. In this position he worked with community leaders and City staff to help low income local residents obtain needed home repair assistance. He assessed safety and repair requirements primarily in homes of low income elderly who wished to remain in their homes. He was responsible for reviewing applications for program eligibility and networking in the community for volunteers and local businesses and corporations to provide construction materials and labor needed for each project.

    Our Health is pleased to have Dan on our team and grateful for the extensive background he brings to our campus. 

    Beth Loque

    Finance Manager

    Beth Louque graduated Magna Cum Laude with her BBA in Accounting from Georgia State University. After college, Beth worked for the Prudential Insurance Company of America. She specifically focused on their managed healthcare division as an accountant, financial analyst and business analyst. Before coming to Our Health Beth was busy raising her two children and actively volunteering at their school. Beth joined Our Health in August of 2010 as the Finance Manager.

    Beth and her husband moved from Atlanta to Winchester after their oldest child was born in 1999 to be closer to family.  They love the area and enjoy being active in the community.  Beth enjoys spending time outdoors especially skiing at Bryce Resort during the winter season.

    Mary Falu

    Administrative Assistant and Office Manager

    Mary joined Our Health in December 2008 as the Administrative Assistant and Office Manager. In December 2017 she took the position of Volunteer Action Center Coordinator while continuing as Office Manager.  Prior to her role with Our Health, she worked at DK Industrial Services as a Payroll Administrator and spent thirteen years with VDO in Human Resources. She served from 1979-1986 in the United States Army in the Military Intelligence Division and made Sergeant before leaving the military. Mary has many career achievements but holds proudly the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

    She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was on the Presidents and Deans list while acquiring her Associates Degree in Administrative Support from Lord Fairfax Community College. She pursues ongoing education courses which interest her and has certificates in Graphic Design Office Assistant, Office Systems Assistant and Desktop Publishing Technician.

    Mary was born in Silver City, NM but has lived most of her life in Capon Bridge, WV. She has two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandsons who are the light of her life.  Family has always been very important to her and she feels blessed with a strong family that has supported her through life. She enjoys walking, going to the gym and traveling.
    .
    Our Health Moment:
    “ I have been working with Our Health 12 years and feel a very strong connection with them. This is my first experience in the world of non-profits and I find it very rewarding to work for an agency that I believe in and feel is helping to improve the lives of others through the agencies that we support.”

    Sharen Gromling

    Executive Director

    Sharen joined Our Health as the Executive Director in April 2010. As administrator, she is charged with the responsibility for implementing the policies and programs of Our Health.  Sharen worked for the City of Winchester for nearly 30 years, retiring as Director of Administration and Human Resources. She administered the human resources function for the City’s 500+ employees, grants, training and employee development, and marketing and public information.  

    Sharen has a passion for training. Since 2009 she has been a trainer for Business and Industry at Lord Fairfax Community College Workforce Solutions.  She conducts trainings in Leadership, HR Management, Board Governance, Strategic Planning, Conflict Mediation, Ethics, Public Administration and Developing Effective Teams.

    Sharen has both a bachelor and master’s degree of art, psychology from University of Richmond. In her career, she has acquired her Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) Certification, Conflict Mediation Certification through Shenandoah University and a HR Trainer certificate through Development Dimensions International.

    Community involvement is also a passion for Sharen. She validates this through her various roles: Member and Past President of Winchester Rotary Club, Vice President of Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Past Board of Directors for Shenandoah University Center for Public Service and Scholarship and Virginia Youth Ballet, member and Past President of the Winchester Society of Human Resource Management and the International Personnel Management Association-Virginia Chapter.

    Her commitment to the City of Winchester is clear with her many years of service. She had the opportunity to Co-Chair the City of Winchester’s All America City Team on its journey to achieve this national recognition.  This award is coveted by communities throughout the United States and the competition is fierce.  The application process requires the City to select three programs that have been implemented in the community that have made a positive difference in people’s lives.  One of those chosen was the Our Health story.  “As I learned of the success of this program I was amazed at its uniqueness and its important role in serving the needs of the region’s non-profits and public service agencies.  Through this I had the opportunity to meet and work with many people whose lives were changed for the better because of this collaborative model.  To serve on this team was one of the major highlights of my public service career.  Our team went on to win this coveted title thanks in large part to the Our Health story.  Little did I know at the time that five years later I would have the opportunity to serve as its Executive Director! Coincidence – I think not.”

    Our Health Moment:
    “I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of Our Health, Inc.  This organization is dedicated to serving our many partners so that they can serve the needs of the community.  My passion in life is service and I am dedicated to living the Rotary Motto – Service above Self.  I have been fortunate in my life to have many opportunities to serve others through both my work and volunteerism.  This position in particular allows me to use my skill set to help others be able to better meet the needs of the clients they serve.  If Our Health can make it easier for our partners to do their work, then we have succeeded.  Our team of employees at Our Health is dedicated to make this happen and I am fortunate to be a part of this mission.  “

    Lou Ling

    Managing Director

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    In publishing and graphic design, lorem ipsum is common placeholder text used to demonstrate the graphic elements of a document or visual presentation, such as web pages, typography, and graphical layout. It is a form of "greeking".

    Even though using "lorem ipsum" often arouses curiosity due to its resemblance to classical Latin, it is not intended to have meaning. Where text is visible in a document, people tend to focus on the textual content rather than upon overall presentation, so publishers use lorem ipsum when displaying a typeface or design in order to direct the focus to presentation. "Lorem ipsum" also approximates a typical distribution of letters in English.

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