Rushing in when others rush out
Russell Springs
When everyone else is running away from danger or difficulty, David Withers Jr., an energy advisor with South Kentucky RECC, is running into the situation—ready to serve.
Withers is a volunteer firefighter and licensed emergency medical technician for the city of Russell Springs, and since 1998, he has also taught the newbies coming on board. As an instructor, Withers has logged more than 2,000 training hours with the Kentucky Fire Commission to be able to perform those duties.
“My father (also a volunteer firefighter and EMT) always said: “If you are good enough to live in a town, the town is good enough for you to be involved.” Now Withers is passing on that wisdom to his sons, Jacob, 22 and Isaiah, 16.
When he isn’t fighting fires or treating accident victims, Withers is president of the city of Russell Springs Ethics Board, director of the Downtown Revitalization Board (Russell Springs), a member of Russell County Arts Council, and a Russell County High School Band Booster. If that weren’t enough, Withers is also a veteran who served in the infantry for the U.S. Army.
Personally touched
Paintsville
Robin Slone cared for her grandmother, Nancy Leedy, for 12 years as Leedy struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. When her grandmother died, Slone volunteered to serve as chair of the Happy House Adult Daycare, where her grandmother had received care. It was part of her grieving process as well as another way to help others.
“Happy House is one of the few adult day care centers around,” Slone says, “and funding doesn’t come in the way it should. I like being able to help keep the center open.”
Slone, a payroll and accounting specialist with Big Sandy RECC, was no stranger to volunteering when she accepted this role. Slone has been co-chair of the Relay for Life for 15 years, Alzheimer’s Walk captain for five years, a Sunday School teacher for 20 years, a volunteer with Operation Clean Sweep (cleaning local lakes) for six years, and a host family for International Exchange students for three.
“I have been personally touched by many of these issues,” Slone says, “and I know what volunteers have meant.”
SaveSave
