Carol Herron Named Tigard “From the Heart” Volunteer of the Year

Carol Herron of Tigard has been selected as the 2014 Tigard Shining Stars “From the Heart” Volunteer of the Year, named in honor of Jim Hartman.  Jim Hartman set the standard for this award by his example of giving from the heart to his community, and the “From the Heart” award honors a person who has dedicated their time and energy to a specific cause in the Tigard community.  This person gives willingly, energetically and consistently; they might be well known or might be a “quiet” volunteer, unrecognized until now, but always gives “from the heart”!  This person may have worked on the same project for many years.
Carol is one of the co-founders of the St. Anthony’s Severe Weather Shelter that opened 5 years ago after a homeless man was found frozen to death in Tigard. Carol and others at St. Anthony were appalled that there was no place for the man to go to get out of the cold.  After talking with officials at Tigard’s Good Neighbor Center homeless shelter, Herron was inspired to see what she could do to get people off the street, at least temporarily as there is no place for single adults in Tigard to go.
Carol currently serves as the General Chairman of the Severe Weather Shelter and has also been involved in a program called Just Compassion which provides laundry and showers the first Sunday of each month to the Tigard homeless Community.  In the 5 years of the Shelter’s existence, Carol has tirelessly given her time and many talents making it a viable option for the local homeless.  Without her efforts someone may have died of hypothermia while living on the stress of Washington County, similar to what occurred 6 years ago.  
In a quote from a woman who found herself temporarily homeless and whom Carol assisted you can see the depth of the impact that Carol has had.  “I can attest to Carol’s impact especially in the Tigard homeless community.  She has truly made an effort to make a difference in as many lives as she can reach and each person she touches is rewarded with kindness, concern and the feeling that Carol genuinely cares about the lives she is helping.”
Please join us in congratulating Carol on this well-deserved award.  This award will be formally presented with other Tigard volunteer and business awards at Tigard’s 2014 Shining Stars Community Awards Celebration, sponsored by Platinum Title Sponsor Washington Federal and held on Friday, April 25th from 5:30-9 p.m. at Embassy Suites – Washington Square, event location host. With a theme of “Get Your Groove On”, this 1960’s themed dinner event includes dinner, silent auction, dessert dash, awards, and more. Tickets are only $35/person, dress is casual, 1960’s.  So grab some groovy gear and come join us to celebrate Tigard!
For further details about Shining Stars, please contact the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce at 503-639-1656 or at debi@tigardchamber.org  or go to our webpage at www.tigardchamber.org 
St. Anthony’s Severe Weather Shelter – Serving our homeless adult community since 2009
Our Shelter provides shelter during inclement weather, some nourishment, and friendship to Tigard’s Adult homeless population between November 1st and March 31st.  During the winter season we feed and shelter an average of 77 individuals during the average of 40 nights that we are open.  Over 150 volunteers helped with every phase of operating the shelter.  There are greeters who welcome and serve meals to the guests each night we are open, and overnight hosts who spend the night.  Volunteers bring hot meals to the shelter each evening, and others do the laundry following each open night.  We have persons who put out and retrieve the large signs that guide the homeless to our open door.  Steering Committee members are involved year round maintaining the shelter behind the scenes.
Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC)
The Tigard Chamber (TACC) is a tool that enables and equips your business to be more nimble, reach farther, grow faster and stay ahead of the competition. Our over 300 member businesses that are part of the Tigard Chamber, an elite 10% of Tigard’s business community, not only leverage each other, but each of these members’ connections and knowledge, as well. It is exponential. If you have a business challenge, question or idea, you are not alone as part of the Tigard Chamber. The TACC provides for its members: Connections & Credibility, Learning, Business Advocacy, Cost Savings, Hot Deals and Community Involvement!