Shelley volunteer recognized for contributions

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 30, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Patricia MorrisA volunteer from Shelley was honored for her service at the Idaho Capital for a Day event hosted by Gov. Brad Little, Wednesday, May 28.

Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, recognized Patricia Morris with the Idaho’s Brightest Star Award for her exceptional volunteer service.

Morris was nominated by the Shelley Senior Center for her dedicated work supporting their mission to promote, coordinate and integrate their programs across Northern Bingham County. Morris served on the board of directors for the center for six years and has volunteered there for nine years.

“Patricia impacts each of our seniors in our community,” said Steven Thyberg, executive director of the Shelley Senior Center. “Each month she calls them on their birthday. For some of our seniors this is the only recognition they get on birthdays. This outreach is vital and provides a connection from our senior center to each senior in our community. Patricia is legally blind, but this does not stop her — she comes each Wednesday and Friday and makes all the calls with a happy heart.”

In addition to the senior center, Morris also serves at the North Bingham County Library.

Idaho’s Brightest Star Award recognizes outstanding volunteers from across the state. It is a partnership between Gov. Little’s office, Serve Idaho and the Idaho Nonprofit Center.

More information about Serve Idaho and AmeriCorps service opportunities is at serve.idaho.gov.

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Serve Idaho is a division of the Idaho Department of Labor. The commission administers Idaho’s AmeriCorps programs. Serve Idaho is funded in part by the federal agency AmeriCorps and the Idaho Department of Labor. In 2024, AmeriCorps committed more than $7.7 million to support Idaho communities through AmeriCorps initiatives. This federal investment leveraged more than $2.1 million in other resources to strengthen community impact, build local support and increase return on taxpayer dollars.

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Serve Idaho is supported by AmeriCorps. A total of $4,519,228, or 61%, of the program is financed with federal funds, and $2,893,430, or 39%, is funded through local support.