National Awards

Camp Lejeune, N.C.

National Award to 1,000 volunteers around Camp Lejeune and Jacksonville, N.C., where Marine and civilian families pulled together through the schools. Angela Hawkins, whose father, 1st Sgt. Billy Hawkins, helped sort donated goods all day, thought she'd be bored, but discovered "I want to help people."

"Green beans and corn don't make very good soup," says Elaine Toth. But that's all the soup kitchen director had to feed the poor and elderly before Make A Difference Day. Other area charities had dire needs, too: everything from wigs for cancer patients to toiletries for a homeless shelter.

Send in the Marines. Two elementary schools -- one on the Camp Lejeune Marine base, and one in nearby Jacksonville, N.C. -- teamed up to fulfill all the needs. Among the bounty donated and sorted by 1,000 family volunteers: three vans of items for a women's shelter, 87 stuffed toys for a child crime victim program, 51 pints of blood, and one stove.

Teachers Debra Bryant and Kerri Helsel hatched the project after reading about Make A Difference Day in the Jacksonville Daily News. Through fliers and the media, they rallied the two communities, military and civilian, to unite to help everyone.

$2,000 award will benefit Onslow Community Ministries and Onslow Women's Center, Jacksonville, N.C.

Photo Credit: GREG FOSTER FOR USA WEEKEND.

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