NOMINEE #1: This volunteer started in 2021 and was looking for a way to give back to her community. As a veteran and a full-time worker at Landstuhl, she applied her organizational skills while at the thrift shop.  She regularly comes in after her work shift to analyze, assess and organize the merchandise on the sales floor, or to assist in placing new items onto the floor. Her positive outlook makes customers feel welcomed and she is always willing to assist them in finding their new “treasures.”

NOMINEE #2: This volunteer continues to contribute to KLSA. She has the kind of work ethic and professionalism one would wish were characteristic of everyone they encountered. Always optimistic, positive, creative and striving to do better for the organization and community despite her already hectic schedule. She stepped in as KLSA’s 2nd vice president while simultaneously taking the reign on KLSA’s biggest event in two years [Octoberfest], coupled with coordinating with the Baumholder Community Spouses Club and balancing her actual board position, her part-time job, her family, and other engagements. Her communication and organizational skills are superb! She is forward thinking and could get ahead of issues before they became problems. Her warm and welcoming disposition are contagious.  KLSA received numerous compliments and kind words from people and organizations that have worked or communicated with her. She continues to generate exceptional graphic design flyers for KLSA’s socials and publicity activities.

NOMINEE #3: This volunteer has been actively involved with KLSA since taking on a key position on the executive board in 2021. She is a positive person and always willing to assist and support KLSA events, including taking on the monthly Bunco gathering to increase awareness of the organization, connecting spouses with each other and building friendships.  She has been very consistent in volunteering at KLSA’s Landstuhl Thrift Shop, which depends on volunteers to sort, price, and place inventory on the sale floor.  Her efforts for the past quarter have impacted the sales at the thrift shop, increase morale, all which have benefitted military families who shop there as well as contributing towards KLSA’s giving programs, grants and scholarships giving back to the community.

NOMINEE #4: This volunteer has been totally dedicated to KLSA, putting her blood, sweat, and tears into KLSA over the past two years. She hit the ground running, in her main board position, ensured the organizations Constitution and By-Laws were board reviewed and updated.  Currently, she has filled in where there are vacancies on the board, including the 1st Vice President and Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD), covering the operations for both the Landstuhl Thrift Shop and collecting, sorting, & managing the hundreds of gowns, dresses, mens apparel and accessories for ODYD. She has kept KLSA afloat and has worked extremely hard to retain respectability and credibility for the organization during difficult times, like Covid-19, successfully providing $43,700 back to the community in 2021. She has spent over a thousand hours in 2021, and continues to cover two additional board positions in 2022. She is constantly working, thinking and executing KLSA operations: opening, organizing, stocking, and closing the Thrift Shop, meeting clients for ODYD as well as executing ODYD in the field at multiple locations throughout Germany including Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern and Ramstein High School for their events.  She is definitely a key board member and one of KLSA’s greatest assets.

NOMINEE #5: Over the past year, this volunteer has gone to great lengths to improve KLSA’s administrative processes. In addition, she has spent an enormous amount of time volunteering at the Thrift Shop to help keep operations running. Since the former manager left to take a new job, she has rotated with another board member, opening and closing the Thrift Shop and has organized the storage and board rooms in the building KLSA uses. The Thrift Shop would not be able to run without her dedication and commitment.

NOMINEE #6: Since joining the board, this volunteer has been amazing in overseeing publicity and activities. These are both very challenging positions and she has shined in both of them. Her tech skills and savvy media knowledge has helped KLSA’s social media pages (including the Thrift Shop’s) increase interest and engagement, reach its target audience and made posts easier to navigate. Due to her efforts, KLSA has had greater traction and endorsements from leaders and organizations in the community. Her consistent posting has translated to greater attendance at activities, an uptick in membership, as well as more shoppers at the Thrift Shop.  It is important to recognize the amount of time and energy this volunteer has devoted to her board positions.

NOMINEE #7: When KLSA agreed to partner with the GAIWC to collect donations of non-perishable items, baby supplies, etc., this volunteer rolled up her sleeves and dived in. Within a few days, she had collected several boxes of items from generous donors at her school. She also joined the efforts at the base commissary to collect donations from shoppers and community members who wanted to assist with the effort. Even though she was only supposed to work the first shift, she stayed the whole day. In addition, she assisted GAIWC to transport the donations and boxes to the storage warehouse where they would eventually be picked up for delivery to the Ukraine citizens and their families. Her caring attitude to support the Ukraine effort, and her dedicated work ethics ensured KLSA’s donation drive was successful.  She continues to support KLSA events, ODYD and outreach events.

NOMINEE #8: For the past year and currently, this volunteer has been very organized in her board position, created a reviewing committee, monthly meetings, and has tracked and reviewed grant submissions from the community. Balancing work, and family, she communicates with the committee via email, providing detailed grant request information, answers questions, and conducting Zoom meetings, which has ensured the grants process was not hindered, especially during the 2021 Covid restrictions, and that approved grants were fulfilled in a timely manner, resulted in over $24,000 given for Grants in 2021.

NOMINEE #9: This volunteer has been actively involved with KLSA for over two years, in the executive board, and has played a vital role in the planning and execution of KLSA’s annual social events, established a planning committee of community and board members, utilized their creative and organizational skillsets, which have promoted KLSA’s philanthropic mission. During Covid, she found ways to connect spouses via fun virtual activities, such as bingo with opportunity prizes, and paint night. In addition, she took another position as AWAG chair, assisting in the annual Leadership and Training Seminar and forums “where spouses, service members, civilians, and retirees can train, network and generate new ideas for personal and professional growth.” Furthermore, she is always volunteering where it’s needed, whether at an outreach event, out at a school for ODYD, or manning donations to support KLSA’s Assistance for Ukraine.