2019 NRCA Volunteer of Year
New River Community Action (NRCA) presented their annual Philip Sadler Memorial Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award to Katrina Underwood at the agency’s Board of Directors’ meeting in Radford on June 20, 2019. NRCA recognized Ms. Underwood for her outstanding volunteer service to the Children’s Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) Program.
Ms. Underwood serves as the Volunteer Manager for the NRCA CHIP Floyd Baby and Toddler Shop. Located in the NRCA building at 120 Epperly Mill Road, SW, the Shop provides lower-income families resources to support their young children. Parents receive necessary items such as diapers and gently used clothing, shoes and coats to help meet the needs of their children. Items in the Shop are free to lower-income families with children age 5 and under and receiving services through NRCA programs, New River Valley Community Services’ Special Deliveries, or any other local home visiting program.
The CHIP Floyd Baby and Toddler Shop has flourished under Ms. Underwood’s leadership. She has gone above and beyond her duties as Volunteer Manager. When the Shop is low on items, she reaches out to the community for donations, often meeting donors outside the normal Shop hours for their convenience. She transports and stocks donations. Ms. Underwood also coordinates publicity for the Shop to ensure Floyd residents know about the resource and how to access and support it. Participants at the Shop appreciate Ms. Underwood’s kind assistance and warm, welcoming personality.
In addition to her work for the Baby and Toddler Shop, Ms. Underwood volunteered at the December CHIP Floyd Parent Group holiday event, helping with set-up and clean-up. When she learned that a few CHIP families missed the Christmas for Children deadline, she rallied her friends and family to provide shoes, clothes, and toys for all the Floyd CHIP children who missed the deadline.
Ms. Underwood is a local leader, passionate about helping others and contributing to her community in a meaningful way. She pours her heart and soul in her volunteer work with NRCA CHIP and the Floyd Baby Shop. Thank you, Katrina Underwood, for being an inspiration and role model!
New River Community Action annually presents the Philip Sadler Memorial Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award in memory of the late Philip M. Sadler, a Pulaski County attorney, community leader and humanitarian. NRCA presents the award to an outstanding agency volunteer in recognition of exceptional service to the community.
Working in collaboration with local health and human service partner agencies, volunteers, community and faith-based organizations, NRCA assists more than 10,000 New River Valley residents each year through a variety of programs that address local conditions of poverty and improve the lives of low-income individuals and families.
To learn more about the NRCA CHIP Floyd Baby and Toddler Shop, including opportunities to volunteer and donate, contact Shelby Kelley, 540-394-3255 or skelley@nrcaa.org.