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Maxwell awards youngest volunteer

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  • By By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  Maxwell volunteer coordinators recognized the base's youngest volunteer to receive the bronze level President's Volunteer Service Award during the third annual Maxwell Volunteer Recognition Awards ceremony, April 15, 2016.

Seven-year-old Isabella Torres was recognized for her 35 hours of volunteer service she provided to her community. 

Isabella inherited her enthusiasm for volunteering from her parents, who are both active in their community. Her father, 2nd Lt. Angel Torres, said that he hopes volunteering will make her humble and see how others live in the community.

"She lives a pretty lavish lifestyle, she doesn't want for anything, so I think giving back to the community helps her understand the premise behind what we do in volunteering, so we're very excited that she was nominated for the award," Torres said.

Isabella's volunteer efforts include cleaning up parks, feeding the homeless, helping out at her school and participating in a recent event benefiting Ukranian orphans in central Alabama.

When asked why she likes to volunteer, Isabella just answered, because it's really fun.
Too shy to go into details, she whispered into her father's ear and let him relay the information.

Isabella said, through her father, that she especially enjoyed playing with the Ukrainian orphans and feeding the homeless.

Isabella frequently volunteers through the organization Kidz Showing Kindness, a volunteer organization that focuses on getting kids ages three through 18 involved in the community.

"These kids are the future leaders of the community. and we need to teach them what's going on it their community," said Christy Gilliland, Kidz Showing Kindness founder. "Our mission is to instill in children a sense of compassion, empathy, kindness and a service to others though volunteer work."

Air Force leaders encourage Airmen to make a positive impact in their communities, but as for Angel Torres, he made volunteering a family effort and proved to his daughter that no matter your age, you can always make a difference.

"We give thousands of hours and continue to give to make our communities better, make our Air Force bases better and at the end of the day it is what makes our nation better and what makes us special," said Torres. "Volunteering is a family affair, something that is passed on from generation to generation and we have our youngest volunteer recognized today, and I feel confident that volunteering will continue be a part of her life."

Isabella stood out among the other award recipients, because of her age, however, Maxwell had 32 other volunteers awarded for their community service. Volunteers received the President's Volunteer Service Award within bronze, silver and gold categories based on the amount of community service hours they obtained. Bronze level recipient, John McCune came out first by earning the Volunteer Excellence Award.

Bronze:

Diana Bain
Anne Germann
Frank May
John McCune
Fredrick Painge
Barbara Rhoades
Crystal Ward
Carol Cooley
James Graves
Judith May
Faye McKinney
Maurice Peagler
Angel Torres
Brett Walters

Silver:

David Bartlett
Bob Dawson
Dorie Henley
David McCaughtry
Tommie Pruitt
Bill Cooper
John Germann
Kay Littlepage
Jamilyn Pickerell
Gloria Simons

Gold:

Susan Glover
Carol Hudak
Doris Lindsey
Deborah Root
Nola Gloyd
John Hudak
Christopher Perrine