Posted 1:25 am Friday, September 17, 2010
Annual Path Dinner Honors Volunteers
By REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
The 25th annual PATH week ended with a bang Thursday night at the sold-out anniversary dinner and silent auction in Christ Episcopal Church -- the building where the nonprofit began.
Stephanie Connell's eyes brimmed with tears as she talked about how far PATH has come since she was the first executive director 25 years ago.
"They have a staff of 17 now -- that's just wild," she said. "PATH has been such an incredible blessing to this community."
PATH -- People Attempting to Help -- is an interfaith-based charity that provides "economically disadvantaged people in Smith County with both emergency assistance and programs to empower and encourage them to become self-sufficient," according to the organization's mission statement.
A soulful performance of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" delighted more than 100 audience members as they clapped along and enjoyed special catering donated by Brookshire's FRESH.
"This all started right below you," the Rev. David Luckenbach said. "People of all different traditions lent a hand and served the least of these."
The Stone Soup Award went to Emalene Clouse, who has crocheted baby blankets for PATH as an in-kind gift. Mrs. Clouse crocheted 31 blankets last year.
The Gertrude Windsor award, named after the nonprofit's founder, is PATH's most prestigious award given annually at the anniversary dinner.
When Cecil Ward's name was called to receive the award, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"I am so honored, I don't believe this," Ms. Ward said. "I don't know what to say. Mrs. Windsor was a hero of mine."
Another past executive director, Nancy Lamar, spoke at the annual dinner about the nonprofit's beginnings.
"I remember seeing a line of people wrapped around the house and thinking, 'how are we going to get through the day?'" she said.
Ms. Lamar was one of the many who spoke fondly of Mrs. Windsor, who started the nonprofit when she was 90 years old.
"The strength of faith and heart of volunteerism is still what PATH is all about," she said.
Though many of the staff, volunteers and supporters at the event celebrated and marveled at how far the nonprofit has come, they know that they still have much work left to do in Smith County. Christina Fulsom, current executive director, said poverty is on the rise -- one in seven adults and one in five children are living below the poverty line.
Ms. Fulsom also gave figures from the organization's recent survey of its clients.
"Forty percent of our clients haven't finished high school," she said. "Forty percent. I knew it would be high, but that number shocked even me."
Still, the theme for the year's event was titled, "faith in our future," and the air of hope was palpable.
"Our clients want a hand up, not a hand out," Ms. Fulsom said. "When we help them, we create more dignity for them, and for ourselves."
