Shirley Walton, a resident of the Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, was named the Volunteer of the Year by LeadingAge PA, a trade association representing more than 370 senior communities across Pennsylvania, as part of its 2022 Distinguished Service Award program.

Walton, who has been a volunteer for more than 60 years, is the founder of the SEW Creative group at Tel Hai, is a past president of the Calico Cutters Quilt Guild and has led Tel Hai's Nature Club.

SEW Creative, which Walton started in September of 2007, is a group of residents who get together weekly to sew items such as walker bags, respirator bags and blankets for Tel Hai Meadows Health Care Center residents. The group also makes table skirts for the Tel Hai chime choir, placemats for Meals on Wheels clients, pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer, baby bundles for newborns and quilts for local veterans and victims of domestic violence. Items made by the group also include sundresses, snappy bags (purses) and school supply bags for girls continuing their education in foreign places such as Belize, Africa and Haiti.

Walton has also led the Nature Club at Tel Hai, which maintains the resident flower and vegetable gardens. Established in 2016, the Tel Hai Gardens were awarded the Garden of Distinction honor from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for five years from 2016 to 2020. Last year, Tel Hai was awarded the 2021 Blue Ribbon of Distinction. The garden at Tel Hai is also an official Monarch Butterfly Waystation.

Walton was nominated for the award by members of the executive and leadership teams at Tel Hai Retirement Community, a member of SEW Creative and the Nature Club and a representative from the Calico Cutters Quilt Guild, all of whom wrote letters to the agency on her behalf. Photos of Walton in the garden and at meetings of SEW Creative were also included in the nomination package.

"Shirley has been willing to share her love of sewing and quilting with others," stated Maureen Ciemian, president of the quilt guild in her nomination letter. "By sharing her love of quilting and being willing to teach others the valuable skills she has learned over the years, we have had quilts to give to those in need that will provide a lifetime of comfort. But perhaps more importantly, Shirley's willingness to help others learn the art of quilting has given many individuals a worthwhile hobby that is not only fun but also rewarding."

"Shirley's servant heart and servant leadership has served the senior population, victims of domestic violence, orphaned children, our veterans and so many other individuals or groups who might benefit from tangible things such as clothing and blankets, or walker bags and mending needs," stated Katie Buck, resident living administrator at Tel Hai, in her nomination letter. "Shirley pulls others into her efforts; she is a great organizer, and she is a caring cheerleader. Shirley recognizes the attributes and contributions of others, and she is the first to shine a light on others before herself."