Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (May 06/01) - Volunteers in the South Slave have done themselves proud.

Two individuals and one organization from the region were recently honoured by Municipal and Community Affairs.

The Thrift Shop in Hay River won the Outstanding Community Organization Award; Lori Uhlenberg of Hay River won the Good Neighbour Award; and Dixie Penner of Fort Smith received the Outstanding Volunteer Award.

"I was shocked," says Penner of her reaction when she first heard she had won in a call from MACA. "At first, I didn't think she was talking about me."

Among other things, Penner was recognized as one of the main organizers of the 2001 South Slave Friendship Festival and as the former president of the Fort Smith Animal Society.

In the latter role, she was instrumental in obtaining a new animal shelter following a lengthy struggle with the town of Fort Smith.

"That's the big thing," she says.

Penner, who has lived in Fort Smith since 1984, believes volunteers are important in small communities. "A community can't really survive without volunteers."

And she volunteers as much as she can, including now as secretary of the animal society.

"I just believe a community is a nicer place to live if you have lots of volunteers."

Like Penner, Lori Uhlenberg was surprised to be honoured with the Good Neighbour Award.

"I thought it was somebody playing a trick on me," she says.

Uhlenberg helps her neighbours in many ways -- pruning trees and taking care of flower beds, babysitting children, taking care of sick dogs, baking, picking berries, and preparing Christmas meals.

However, she feels there are many people in Hay River who are equally deserving of the award. "We just don't hear about them and they're not nominated. I have good neighbours. It's a two-way street."

Uhlenberg says helping people is just a part of her life. "It's just the way I am."

Norma Schofield of the Thrift Shop says the second-hand store has been helping the community for about 35 years, selling such items as clothes, books, household items, hockey equipment, toys and some furniture.

"I haven't found a cheaper thrift store anywhere, and, believe me, I check them out," she says.

While the store operates under the umbrella of the Anglican Church, Schofield says it helps the entire community.

Last year, the Thrift Shop distributed about $20,000 to worthy causes, including the soup kitchen, the food bank, schools, the youth centre and projects of the Anglican Church.

In all, Schofield says 23 volunteers help out at the Thrift Shop on a regular basis.

Three Yellowknife volunteers were also honoured.

Janet Wong received the High Five Youth Award while Ed Jeske was named Respected Elder. Dusty Miller was named top board member.