The volunteers and staff at the Margaret Gray Center have been named the Citizens of the Quarter by the Lexington Community Betterment Association.

The COQ award — also called the Above and Beyond Award — was presented at last Thursday night’s LCBA meeting at the LEX.

The following tribute was read by LCBA member Nekie Kramer: “As the Lexington News so aptly put it in their recent article about the Margaret Gray Center, it is a most valuable resource in the community. Some things very important about the center are its volunteers and Care Connection Staff. They offer many programs and activities! What sets them apart are the people who meet you at the door and coordinate all these things with big caring smiles. Therefore the COQ Award goes to the volunteers and staff of the Margaret Gray Center.

Any time we do this there is the distinct chance of leaving someone out and for that we apologize in advance.

Volunteers include Rhonda Goucher, whose parents were involved in the original center. She has worked there since probably 2010. Regina Stickley is the person who comes in early and helps everyone get prepared for the day. On the desk you will see a variety of people. Debbie McGinnis spends many days there since 2022, helping with advertising, promotions and fundraising.

Marcia Thompson, Nancy Oles, Marilyn Schelp, Melissa Beal, Letha Lynn, and the volunteer baker and helper extraordinaire Ruthie Lauderdale all take a turn there.

Another excellent baker of the specialty fundraising events is Cumi Helm. She brings in her troop of Ed Gooseman, Chris Gooseman and Kyle Kolkmeyer. Helpers during the fundraisers or whenever they are needed include Barb Langford, Joyce Marchetti, Paula Kolster, Evelyn Trigg, Brenda Hancock, David Rich, Mike Repphun, and Vance Argo.

For Care Connection we have Candace Weddle who always makes everything fun and better. The great cooks in the kitchen are the cheerful and talented Carol McGinnis who has been there 5-6 years and Deborah Phur. They say their favorite crowd-pleasing meals are meat loaf, friend chicken, pot roast and turkey and dressing among others. They serve between 218-374 meals per day.

Besides the meals served at the Center are the Home Delivered Meals almost every day, there are at least 30 volunteers who do this to help the people at home! These volunteers are an important way not to just feed people in their homes but to check on their well-being.

So come out for meals or Chair Yoga, or Tai Chi or Wi Bowling or to use the library or computers and just to enjoy the camaraderie.

We thank these volunteers for making Lexington and the area a much better place to live.”