News

Congratulations to Donna McDaniel of Cookeville, who received the HRS Property of the Year award in December. Donna has lived with HRS for 10 years. She has four children, six grandchildren and one fur baby – Sparky. One of Donna’s daughters recently graduated college with a psychology degree and is working with children.

Donna sets a great example for other residents and the community by having a very neat, clean and nicely decorated home – both inside and out. Donna enjoys using her creative talents to decorate on a budget and loves to hunt for sale, clearance or dollar items. She enjoys painting artwork, doing crafts (especially knitting), reading about science and going antiquing. She loves to work in the yard by planting flowers along with herbs and vegetables to eat. Donna also grows houseplants, saying, “They will make any house look more like a home.” She states, “This has been a great place to raise my kids. The property is well taken care of by housing, and the employees are very nice.” We greatly appreciate Donna’s efforts to maintain her home and be an example to others.

Quawana’s Coats Volunteer of the Year Award went to Sarah Winfree, who has volunteered with Quawana’s Coats for the past three years. Sarah has done everything from hosting coat drives and moving and sorting coats to helping on the day of the event. She has even helped to obtain clothing and hygiene items for TNT and Quawana’s Closet.

Teens Need Training Tutor of the Year Award went to Bennett Henderson, who began working with our Resident Services Department this summer as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Bennett continued to volunteer to tutor TNT youth and help with Resident Services.

HRS Volunteer of the Year Award went to Dawn Kupferer of Kwill Consultants who has been working with Resident Services for the past two years by volunteering her talents as a grant writer. But in addition to that, she has helped with numerous other Resident Services events and programs, from stuffing Easter eggs to taking nature hikes with TNT to manning the popcorn machine at Quawana’s Coats.

HRS Supporter of the Year Award went to our local Walgreens Stores and managers Mike Montandan, Mike McCollum and Joel Underwood. These managers have worked with our youth for learning workplace skills and job placement. They have donated many items and contacted Resident Services when needed items are being discounted. Joel, Mike and Mike have also been leaders in the community by supporting Power of Putnam, hosting drug take-back days and much more.