Volunteers

Two Valley women were recently honored by First Lady Nancy Murkowski for their volunteer work in the community.

Sharon Kern and Kimberly Carr were among 10 Alaskans who received the First Lady Volunteer of the Year Award at a ceremony last month. Kern, who lives in the Butte, and Carr, who lives in Wasilla, were chosen from more than 60 nominees.

"I was very, very surprised when I heard about it," Kern said. "This isn't something you expect."

Kern volunteers at a number of agencies around Southcentral Alaska. She volunteers time at Bishop's Attic, working the cash register and pricing items, but that is only the start of her service. She helps the Palmer Pioneer Home with bingo on Tuesdays.

Kern also washes coats to send to the Brother Francis Shelter and the Covenant House in Anchorage, to help homeless adults and teens stay warm during the winter.

Around the holidays, she coordinates the Christmas food basket program at the Palmer Food Bank. But volunteering her time isn't an obligation, she said.

"I do stuff because I want to, and because I can," Kern said. "I also owe a big 'thank-you' to my husband, Dave, because I couldn't do a lot of things without his support."

Kern has been a lifelong resident of the Mat-Su Valley and has been active in the community for years. Her grandfather was M.D. Snodgrass, who brought the Colonists north to the Matanuska Valley in the 1930s.

Carr was the youngest First Lady Volunteer of the Year recipient. While only 14 years old, Carr has been active in the community since she was 7. Her introduction to community service came through an achievement program.

"I first got involved with volunteering through the Alaska Pre-Teen/Petite Achievement program and I've just stayed with it," Carr said. "Volunteering was a big part of the program, so I had to get involved. I found out I liked it, and I've stayed with it."

Carr volunteers at the Imaginarium in Anchorage, is a member of Mat-Su Youth Court and works the phone bank for Make-A-Wish Foundation fund-raisers. She has also participated in several charity walks, even serving as a team captain for next week's Relay for Life walk event, for the American Cancer Society.

Volunteering with so many different agencies has a big reward, Carr said.

"It makes me feel really good to know that I am helping others," Carr said. "I like to do a little of everything for everybody."

Carr is a freshman at Wasilla High School, and that alone demands much of her time.

She played volleyball last year and was a basketball team manager. She also participates in ballet. While the demands on her time are many, she is always ready to chip in and help others, she said.

"I do most of my volunteering on the weekend. I'll take one weekend and do something with my friends and then take the next weekend for a project," Carr said.

"That way, I can have a personal life, too."