Rescue Mission honors volunteers

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

alcorn@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Keith McCombs, Sandy Hewitt and Debbie Smith received Servant’s Heart Awards, given annually by the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley to volunteers for exceptional service.

The awards were presented Wednesday by the Rev. David L. Sherrard at the mission’s annual picnic for resident-clients and volunteers at Boardman Park.

The Rescue Mission could not provide the level of service and care that it does without the hundreds and hundreds of hours given by volunteers, said the Rev. Mr. Sherrard, executive director.

McCombs, of Mineral Ridge, said the seed for giving back was planted by his father who had donated to the mission.

When McCombs retired in 2008 as area manager of production for the continuous caster at WCI Steel in Warren, he said he looked around for somewhere to volunteer. He now spends about 30 hours a week helping in the mission’s volunteer department, learning center and reception areas.

He also leads tours of mission facilities, tutors clients, helps lead client field trips, answers phones and helps coordinate other volunteers activities.

“I love the staff and clients. When I came here, I was not saved and now I am. God’s hand and the staff led me to the Lord,” he said.

Hewitt, of Poland, has been a volunteer since 2007, when she retired from St. Elizabeth Health Center where she was a medical technologist.

She said she wanted to do volunteer work, and her concern for the homeless drew her to the Rescue Mission. She volunteers two days a week using her computer skills to assist with the mission’s direct-mail database and record-keeping.

Smith, of Austintown, helps oversee the individuals who are serving court-appointed community- service hours at the mission’s warehouse.

Volunteering nearly 40 hours per week, she tracks their hours, monitors their work and works alongside them sorting and hanging donated clothing and household items for the mission’s twice-weekly giveaways.

“I volunteer for the love of Jesus and the people who are so lost without Jesus and down and out. I don’t think people realize the need in the community,” Smith said.