Celebrate Plainville! Award Recipient Shares the Spotlight
Joseph Plourde Honored; Awards $2,500 Grant to Community Food Pantry
(April 13, 2007) Yes, Joseph Plourde said; he has been humbled by his recent selection as the 2007 Celebrate Plainville! community service award recipient. But last evening, he had a chance to share his award with those who mean the most to him – his family and fellow volunteers at the Plainville Community Food Pantry.
Before a gathering of 50 or so business and community leaders at a Plainville Chamber of Commerce-sponsored grand opening at International Monetary Systems on East Main Street, Joe was presented with the award by Community Foundation of Greater New Britain President Jim Williamson. Looking on proudly were his family and friends: wife Rosia, son Roger and daughter-in-law Pierrette, along with Justin Woerz and others from the Food Pantry.
“The community food pantry is blessed with a volunteer staff some 80 strong, and surely Joe would want his fellow volunteers to share in the spotlight,” said Williamson. “But the spotlight this year, Joe, has fallen upon you for all you do, and rest assured the folks down at the pantry wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Joe immediately announced that the $2,500 Foundation grant that is part and parcel of the award, to be designated by the recipient, would go to the community food pantry. He was clearly touched by all the fanfare. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight,” said Joe, 79. “God bless all of you.”
Joe was one of five nominees for the award, part of the Foundation’s four-town Celebrate Our Communities! community service awards program in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. Joining him last evening were fellow nominees Karen Hodge, a Girl Scouts leader, volunteer with the Congregational Church of Plainville and member of the Plainville Choral Society, as well as Perry Cole, a Boy Scouts leader and youth coach. Other nominees were Mary Karnuk and David Niedzwiecki, Sr.
Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. For more information on the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018 or visit www.cfgnb.org.
< Back