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1049 State Ave. * Marysville, Washington 98270 * (360) 363-8000 * web: marysvillewa.gov The unexpected surprise that came after her award After Sewell received her award at the meeting, the Mayor introduced Mike O’Brien, Owner of O’Brien Auto Group, who was visiting the City Council to announce their new Honda dealership to be built soon in Marysville at 156th and I-5, and packing an artist’s rendering of the facility. O’Brien was moved by JoAnn’s story. “It’s really hard to give your time, JoAnn, like you do. You ought to be proud of yourself for giving that amount of time.” In her name, O’Brien pledged a surprise $10,000 to the food bank “to support whatever efforts you think are best for (the money).” Office of the Mayor News Release Contact: Doug Buell, Community Information Officer Office: (360) 363-8086 Cell: (425) 754-3641 Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Dec. 3, 2012 Mayor honors food bank volunteer coordinator as Volunteer of the Month for October MARYSVILLE – Mayor Jon Nehring is proud to honor JoAnn Sewell as Volunteer of the Month for October for her leadership within the Marysville Community Food Bank. “It’s people like JoAnn that make Marysville what it is,” Nehring says. “She has an enduring dedication to serving the less fortunate in our community, and she is using the hours of her life in a meaningful way.” Sewell joined the food bank family about five years ago, Nehring shared at a recognition ceremony during at the Nov. 26 City Council meeting, which was attended by family and other food bank volunteers. Her husband had passed away, and with seven children grown and out of the house, she needed a new passion, and quickly found her second home volunteering at the food bank. Seeing her dedication to serving the less fortunate and welcoming other volunteers, she was hired part-time as Volunteer Coordinator, a 5-hour-a-week job. Sewell helps draft food bank policy and guidelines, interviews potential volunteers, guides volunteers where their talents are best suited and at times coaches them in appropriate customer service. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1049 State Ave. * Marysville, Washington 98270 * (360) 363-8000 * web: marysvillewa.gov In reality, she donates about 30 hours each week beyond the coordinator work needed to get the job done right. The list with her gifts of time and labor to the food bank is long, including supervising the sorting of hundreds of pounds of produce coming in and setting out the food and quantities to be distributed to the long lines of clients; setting up displays of produce, pastries and bread; picking up bargain-priced food at local store; growing her own fresh produce in six garden plots (yielding 450 lbs. in 2012); and encouraging other gardeners (yielding a total of 18,000 lbs. for the food bank in 2012); making pots of soup for volunteers and hot chocolate for clients; singing Christmas songs to clients during the holidays; attending Food Bank Board meetings; and filling in for the food bank director when he is away or at meetings. JoAnn made her involvement a family affair when she encouraged her daughter, Amy Howell, to volunteer, too, Nehring said. Howell has brought her customer service and record-keeping talents to the table, and added grant writing to her skills with a program called “Food for Thought.” The program supplies backpacks filled with weekend food for students at two Marysville elementary schools that have been identified at risk of hunger. One of the grants came through the City’s Community Development Block Grant Program. In his nomination, Food Bank Director Dell Deierling said, “JoAnn is an amazing person. We have the utmost respect for her, as well as the deepest appreciation for her service to this community.”