Local animal shelter supporter to be honored
Courtesy of Friends of Madera Animal Shelter One of 36 local dogs and cats driven to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland last Sunday morning by volunteers. The trip was one of many coordinated by Hands Across the Valley award-winner Robin Bell of Friends of Madera Animal Shelter.
Robin Bell, of Friends of Madera Animal Shelter, and 12 others will be honored at an annual Hands Across the Valley Volunteer Awards Luncheon set for April 26 at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Clovis.
The awards honor those who give time and talent to improve the quality of life in the San Joaquin Valley, according to HandsOn Central California. Bell, in particular, is being recognized for her love of animals.
Bell has coordinated the transport of hundreds Madera County Animal Shelter animals to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland, according to FMAS, thus sparing the animals’ lives. A 6 a.m. trip last Sunday, coordinated by Bell, carried 36 dogs and cats to a new chance at life in Oregon. HandsOn Central California received 95 nominees from volunteers in Madera, Merced, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Other award winners are: Fresno Rescue Mission, St. Vincent De Paul, Fresno Adventist Academy, Vallorie Barchardt of Girl Scouts of Central California South, Emiko Diaz of Valley Animal Center, Jackie Espinosa of Community Food Bank, Kathy Flaherty of American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Nancy Kast of Fresno County Library, Teresa Holdman of Mario G. Olmos Elementary School, and Shannon Warmack of Farmdale Elementary School.
Lifetime Achievement winners are Deborah Riordan of Central Valley Veterans and Flaherty. HandsOn Central California was founded in 1962 by a group of Fresno County leaders who wished to promote volunteerism as a tool for community change. Its awards have been given out at the annual luncheon since 1968.
