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Community Cooperative Volunteer Gary Zerfoss Wins Volunteer Florida’s Champion of Service Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community Cooperative Volunteer Gary Zerfoss Wins Volunteer Florida’s Champion of Service Award

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 8, 2025) – Community Cooperative proudly announces that long-time volunteer Gary Zerfoss has been honored with Volunteer Florida’s prestigious Champion of Service Award. This recognition celebrates his exceptional dedication, passion, and commitment to serving the community and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who rely on Community Cooperative’s services.

Gary has been an invaluable volunteer at Community Cooperative’s Community Market, the organization’s food pantry, for over three and a half years. Throughout this time, he has contributed nearly 900 hours of service, consistently going above and beyond. Whether guiding clients through the pantry, offering a warm greeting, or ensuring that individuals feel treated with dignity and respect, Gary has become an essential part of the team at Community Cooperative.

“Gary’s pure passion and unwavering commitment to Community Cooperative, our programs, and the clients we serve are truly remarkable,” said Stefanie Ink Edwards, CEO of Community Cooperative. “He embodies the essence of service and is a constant source of positivity and inspiration. We are proud to see him recognized as Volunteer Florida’s Champion of Service.”

Gary’s remarkable impact is most evident in his interactions with clients. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Gary greets clients with a smile and personally guides them through the pantry, ensuring that each individual has a dignified shopping experience. Over time, he has become a familiar face to many returning clients, learning their names and greeting them with enthusiasm. His kindness and patience help create a welcoming environment where clients feel respected and valued.

In addition to his daily contributions, Gary has demonstrated a profound understanding of the challenges faced by many in the community. Recognizing the communication barriers faced by Spanish-speaking clients, Gary took the initiative to learn enough Spanish to assist them through the shopping process in their primary language. Gary also observed that many clients who walk or bike to the Community Market struggled with transporting their groceries, so he generously donated funds to provide logoed canvas shopping bags, making it easier for them to carry their items.

As a mentor to new volunteers, Gary’s experience and positive influence have been invaluable. His boisterous laugh and infectious enthusiasm create an environment that encourages volunteer retention and fosters a sense of community. He has also become a passionate advocate for Community Cooperative and its mission, regularly praising the organization and its volunteer program in the community.

Gary Zerfoss’s exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication embody the spirit of volunteerism. His selflessness and leadership have had a lasting impact on the individuals and families served by Community Cooperative, making him a deserving recipient of the Champion of Service Award.

As we enter the New Year, Community Cooperative is actively seeking new volunteers to help continue its vital work in the community. Whether it is helping to provide food assistance, mentoring new volunteers, or supporting various programs, there is always an opportunity for those who wish to give back. Gary’s story is an inspiring reminder of the difference one person can make, and they invite others to follow his example and volunteer in 2025.

For more information about Community Cooperative and how to get involved in the New Year, please visit https://CommunityCooperative.com/give-help/volunteer/ or contact Brooke@CommunityCooperative.com.

About Volunteer Florida

In 1994, Volunteer Florida was established to administer national service programs, such as AmeriCorps, throughout the state and has since taken a role in managing volunteers and donations during times of disaster. Volunteer Florida strengthens Florida’s communities through national service, fostering volunteerism and leveraging resources to endorse volunteerism as a solution to critical issues in Florida.

About Community Cooperative

Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs. With a dedicated team of volunteers, board of directors, and staff, Community Cooperative stays committed to its core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of community partners. Community Cooperative is an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to it and serves clients with compassion and integrity. Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity.

Media Contact: Aliyah Santana, Social Media & Marketing Coordinator, Aliyah@CommunityCooperative.com or call (239) 332-7687 ext. 105.