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First
Lady Karen Waldbillig Kasich, Victor French, Becky French, and Ohio
Department of Aging Director Bonnie Kantor-Burman
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Greenville residents
honored for volunteer efforts
HandsOn West Central Ohio, a program of Council on Rural Services, is
proud to announce that two members of the program’s Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program were recognized for their volunteer efforts by the
Ohio Department of Aging on February 10 in Columbus.
Victor and Becky French, residents of Greenville, were honored during a
reception at the Governor’s Residence as one of 22 couples receiving
the Joined Hearts in Giving award from the Ohio Department of
Aging. The award is given annually to Ohio couples, married for
at least 40 years, who have made significant contributions through
their volunteer efforts.
Married for 46 years, Victor and Becky French are volunteers with
HandsOn West Central Ohio, serving through the Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program. Mrs. French assists with clerical and data entry
tasks in the HandsOn office. Mr. French serves as a disaster volunteer
for the Darke County Chapter of the American Red Cross, a role he
assumed following the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He also assists at
FISH Choice Pantry in Darke County and occasionally speaks on behalf of
the agency. The couple has recorded 5,035 hours since they began
volunteering through HandsOn in 2008, service valued at nearly
$105,000. In 2008, HandsOn named Mr. French RSVP Volunteer of the Year.
He also has received Presidential Service Award pins for sharing more
than 500 hours of service within one year. He received a Gold
Presidential Award from the Darke County Chapter of the American Red
Cross in May 2010. In addition to serving through RSVP, the Frenches
also are active members and volunteers through EUM Church in Greenville.
“Victor and Becky are two of nearly 300 volunteers in Darke, Logan,
Miami and Shelby Counties who share their time and talent through our
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program,” says HandsOn West Central Ohio
Director Nicolette Winner. “We are so proud of their work, and
their contributions in the Greenville area are a wonderful example of
how so many adults ages 55 and better are sharing a lifetime of
expertise with more than 100 nonprofit organizations who partner with
our program.”
Victor and Becky French join three other couples serving through
HandsOn West Central Ohio as RSVP volunteers who have received this
other in our region in the past three years. Chester and Elinor
Dowden of West Liberty received the honor in 2009, followed by both
Woody and Katie Amidon of Bellefontaine and JoAnn and John Covelli of
Sidney in 2010. To learn more about HandsOn West Central Ohio,
including the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, visit www.handsonwestcentralohio.org
or like the program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/handsonwestcentralohio.
The Darke County office may also be reached by calling (937) 548-8002,
ext. 211.
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