Media Releases

Shelley Carroll, Aaron Froese named adult, youth volunteers of the year by Town of Amherst

Amherst wouldn’t be the kind and caring community it is without volunteers like Shelley E. Carroll and Aaron Froese, Mayor David Kogon said on Feb. 25.

“Both Shelley and Aaron exemplify what it means to be a volunteer. They and many other volunteers make Amherst a great place to live, work and play,” Kogon said, after it was announced Carroll and Froese would represent the community at the provincial government’s annual volunteer recognition ceremony scheduled for Halifax on April 1.

Carroll will represent the town as the Adult Volunteer of the Year, while Froese is the town’s Youth Volunteer of the Year.

The two were selected from several nominations received by the Town of Amherst in the weeks preceding the ceremony at town hall. Unlike past years, there was no Family Volunteer of the Year Awarded handed out as the town received no nominations in that category.

Carroll was nominated by the Minocha-McKenney family, who noted that “Shelley is an example of a community-minded individual whose only goal is to better her community and change the lives of others. Whatever Shelley does, she puts her all into it (while) expecting nothing in return.”

Her nominators noted that Carroll has volunteered with the Amherst Minor Basketball Association, Amherst Valentines Run, Community Christmas Dinner, the Amherst Striders running club and “other acts which she keeps private and prefers not to disclose because she is a very humble and private person.”

They also noted she volunteers within the school system, especially the band and athletic programs.

Froese, 17, was nominated by the Fundy Youth Soccer Club for his volunteer work with the club that has included coaching for three years in multiple programs, including the summer soccer camps. He also coached in multisport and academy programs, helped organize and lead the ‘A” family night in Amherst and helped with registration during the 2018 soccer season.

He has also volunteered with youth programs at Amherst Wesleyan Church, as a Sunday School helper at Springhill Baptist Church and as a summer camp leader/coach with the Cumberland Sporting Club.

Aaron’s volunteer work has generated many “positive comments,” his nominators said in the application form. “He shows up early, comes prepared and supports his team and athletes.”

National Volunteer Week will be held between April 7 and April 13. The Town of Amherst will recognize all the volunteers who were nominated during this week during a reception scheduled for April 9.