Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels has named the recipient of the annual volunteer of the year award for 2020.
Named after the man who braves the bitter cold every year to ring bells for the Salvation Army, the Tom Drill Volunteer of the Year Award was founded in 2015 to honor Mr. Manitowoc, as Mayor Nickels explains.
“He volunteers for a plethora of organizations, and you will always see his welcoming smile if you attend [a show] at the Capitol Civic Center,” Nickels said. “So in 2015. We started the inaugural Tom Drill City of Manitowoc Volunteer of the Year Award.”
The recipient for 2020 is someone who helped a large number of people survive the pandemic, by giving them an affordable food option. Grow it Forward Founder Amber Daugs was the spearhead behind helping hundreds of families during the pandemic.
“In 2020, they served a lot of families,” Nickels said. “250 families in April, 600 in May, 900 in June, and 1,200 in July.”
We spoke with Amber, who was humbled by the honor, saying it was more than one individual who made it all happen.
“To be able to help orchestrate this good work in our community takes a legion of a lot of individuals, and I can only do so much,” she told Seehafer News. “I am very grateful to my board, to our volunteers, to our donors and our sponsors, and those who attend our special events.”
As a part of receiving the award, Amber received a key to the city, and her name and favorite quote will forever be immortalized in the sidewalk outside City Hall.
Amber is in good company in receiving this award, as not only has Tom Drill received it, but so has Rob Roseff, a man better known as Gumby, and the namesake of Gumby’s Club Fore a Cure.
