Thank you to all of our Volunteers and especially our

volunteers of the year!

Caring Children Clothing Children (4Cs) thanked dozens of its volunteers at a recent Volunteer Appreciation dinner. An anonymous donor underwrote the event at Monarch Country Club in Palm City.

Gigi Suntum, executive director of the 4Cs, described many of the activities the volunteers handle to help the 28-year-old local charity continue its mission of providing clothing and tutoring assistance to underprivileged children in Martin County. She said volunteers make weekly trips to gather gently-used clothing from donation bins. They sort and hang clothing in the 4Cs store at 7985 Jack James Drive in Stuart, they help with the 4Cs van when it makes visits to local events and they tutor struggling elementary school students with their reading and math.

“All combined, our store, tutor and Board volunteers contributed 3,434 hours of service in the last year,” she said. They helped more than 5,000 children with free clothing and educational assistance.

Three special awards were presented to the group’s long-term volunteers.

Missy Noyes received the Douglas Brimlow Lifetime Achievement Award for her 20 years of service to the organization. She served as Board President for two years as well as in other board officer positions. She has chaired the Holiday Cookie Lunch fund-raiser for three years. Among other ways she has supported 4Cs, Missy Noyes has recruited volunteers from her workplace and has actively involved 4Cs in her workplace foundation for funding.

Debbie Gaines received the Literacy Volunteer of the Year award. She has been a 4Cs tutor for six years and provides individualized reading support for her students. She uses her years of experience as a teacher not only to meet the needs of each of her students, but also to assist in training other tutors.

John and Mary Lendman were both named Store Volunteers of the Year. The couple have different volunteer roles. Mary has spent years helping in the store and reading to children in the store library every week. John served as Board president for three years, helps maintain the 4Cs website, and served as a math tutor for more than eight years. He is also a current Board member.