The Worcester County Commissioners and Volunteer Services Manager Cyndy Howell honored just a few of the many outstanding community volunteers, who donate thousands of hours every year to meet the needs of those in the community, during Worcester County’s 2006 Maryland’s Most Beautiful People (MMBP) Volunteer Awards Dinner Ceremony held at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Katie Coffman of Ocean Pines was recognized as Worcester County’s 2006 MMBP.

Ms. Coffman represents the strong commitment held by Worcester County volunteers. For the past six years, she has organized NOEL (nothing other than eating and loving), which is a community Christmas dinner held annually at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church. Last year alone, NOEL served more than 600 meals at the hall or by delivery to the needy, homebound and those providing public services. During that event holiday gifts are also distributed to both children and adults. As a result of the program’s success, Ms. Coffman expanded the outreach to provide weekly lunches too. NOEL thrives because of Ms. Coffman’s generosity and outstanding organizational skills. She is able to identify the needs of the underprivileged in Worcester County and then to assure that those needs are met.

Katie Coffman will represent Worcester County at the state-wide Maryland’s Most Beautiful People Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Dinner in Annapolis in November.

Along with Ms. Coffman, Arlene Page and Betty and Richard Burbage were spotlighted for their outstanding commitment to volunteer services. In addition George Ganzzermiller, Alice Tweedy, Jolyn and Jenna Nowak, Nadine Miller, Sue Johnston, Ray Jackson, Robert and Laura Hall, Linda Busick, and Connections Youth Volunteer Group were honored for their volunteer services to the community. Lynne Boyd, director of Mental Health Programs at the Worcester County Health Department who was killed in a traffic accident on U.S. Rt. 113 last month was also honored during the dinner for her many volunteer efforts throughout her lifetime.

Worcester County is extremely grateful for each of the countless volunteers who continue to give of their time, talent, and resources to improve the lives of those around them. It is these individuals and groups, whose good works often go unnoticed by the general public, and who contribute to the outstanding quality of life in Worcester County.