Recognizing Outstanding Kindness Since 2019

Margaret Furlong volunteered for many years at Lowell Prison in Ocala working with a group of ladies in the Crafts of Conviction Group teaching them crafting skills and sharing stories from the outside world.  Margaret was also instrumental in getting the Community Resource Center off the ground. She worked with the ladies that made several different items, such as baby clothes, and small children’s quilts that were distributed through the fire department. Dolls were given to ladies in nursing homes and to children in the hospital as learning tools

She is a huge supporter of ‘Abundance of Love’ and delivers carloads of craft items from Hope Crafters to AOL for distribution. She is always working in the background, and it was our pleasure to acknowledge Margaret’s many years of service. 

Our thanks to Jen Smith, Barbara Bickley, John Mairino, and Debbie Fisher for all their help.

 On Sunday, April 24th, we honored Leslie Adams during a service at the Congregational Church on Rt 301in Summerfield. Leslie spends countless hours running the Infant-Toddler Pantry which supplies clothing, books, and other needs to children of families in need. Our many thanks to Bonnie Pearson, Barbara Bickley, and Jean Collier for being a part of this celebration. These events continue to be one of the most enjoyable and valuable things we do.

We had a wonderful AAOK on August 26th for a member of our club who happens to be one of the kindness persons I know, Bonnie Mulneix. Bonnie has been playing a major role in Abundance of Love (AOL) for a long time and is the founder of Caring Neighbors in The Village of Tall Trees. This will forever be known as the “What are you doing here, Lindsay” event. We were able to surprise Bonnie at one of the AOL meetings at Big Cypress. Our thanks to Carol Cholette, Barbara Bickley, and Jean Collier, and Jen Smith for being a part of this event.

Con was the last pilot to escape after the fall of Viet Nam. He was a South Vietnamese helicopter pilot who was a part of the King Bees that were responsible for saving many stranded and wounded soldiers during the war. 

In his last flight out he carried out the heroic act of saving his family and 80 women and children from a remote island and landing them on the USS Okinawa under extremely difficult conditions.

It was an honor to acknowledge Con for his kind, brave act as well as his wife, Linda. They currently reside in the Village of Marsh Bend.

Marie is the Founder and CEO of Villagers for Veterans. She works tirelessly in her quest to help veterans in need in our area. 

She was instrumental in raising funds to provide a home for SGT Pam Kelly, a paralyzed Veteran, in Orange Blossom Gardens, has raised funds for training service dogs for Vets, orchestrates fundraisers for Christmas celebrations for children of veterans living in the Ocala Forest, and much more. She was the main driving force for Ashley’s House, an all-female veteran transition home which will open soon in Eustis, Florida.

Ten of us showed up at her Bingo fundraiser at the Wildwood Community Center to honor her for her exceptional kindness with over 200 in attendance. A special thanks to Judy Samuelson for her help.

 Our Membership chair, Carol Cholette, wrote the following about this nominee and we had a wonderful surprise celebration during the gathering of their social group.

Our neighborhood of Hemingway already was a very social and friendly group. However after a few years those who had been doing things wanted to pass the torch. Mary took over and coordinated 4 major socials a year. She then added many more such as Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Christmas. She started a bocce league, thrift day, rummikub and Samba days and monthly game night, neighborhood garage sale and several trips including bus to New Orleans 2 years ago. She sends out reminders and reserves necessary equipment etc.

Mary also has soup or pasta ready for anyone that is sick. She also visits anyone in the hospital and regularly visits a neighbor in a nursing home and gives us a report on how she is doing.

Mary also volunteers at Our Mothers Attic and as an usher at the Savannah Center.

She is not representing a large or major group but I think she is deserving as a person who has never met a stranger and truly lives each day with kindness for others. 

Mary sent us this note the following day: Hello. My name is Mary Christopher and I was acknowledged by your amazing group last night at our (Between the Loops Social). I cannot thank you enough, my heart is always filled with love but it truly ran over last night. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have been blessed one thousand fold.

Barbara is active with Boomer Loomers  - a club that has been making hats, scarves, blankets and more for over 5 years.  Barbara volunteered to not only make hats and scarves but also to distribute them to various homeless groups.

She is very involved in Trades of Hope - an organization that empowers women to escape sex trafficking and bondage.  Over the last two years she has provided bicycles for children to ride to school so they can escape kidnappers, delivery kits for pregnant women to take to the hospital with them, fruit trees and chickens to provide a source of food,  and these are just a few of her accomplishments.

Barbara also volunteers time to help WUMC with their Matthew 25 ministry that gives clothing to people in the area.  She has also gone to Ocala to pass out Blessing Bags to the homeless people there. 

We had a very exciting AAOK event and our first to take place outside of The Villages bubble. 

We acknowledged 2 people who were instrumental in the building of a ‘Tiny Home’ along with 50 youths from the Arnette House, a home for troubled youths in Ocala. The event took place at The Veteran’s Park in Ocala and was absolutely wonderful! Our acknowledgement was included in the agenda along with the Mayor of Ocala, State Senator Baxley and other dignitaries.  After all the speeches the bus covering the tiny home was moved and the keys presented to a deserving veteran. The Mayor suggested that they should have a club like ours in Ocala.

Our thanks to Jen Smith for helping make all this happen and to Jean Collier and Margaret, Bob Wolfe,  

David Ulloa and Denise Paradis for being a part of the event. Lots of cards were handed out to those attending, including the youths that help build the house.

We acknowledged Gene Murray of the Village of Pennecamp for the extraordinary kindness he has shown helping neighbors wherever and whenever needed. 

He was instrumental in starting the Neighbors Saving Neighbors AED program in his neighborhood and continues to run it smoothly. Gene is always the first to offer help to someone in need, and often knows when someone needs a helping hand before they do. Several members of our club surprised Gene at an AED meeting in his home and presented him with a Certificate of Kindness, a restaurant gift certificate, and a signed copy of “Kindness Rocks!”. Jen Smith donated a red,white,and blue blanket made by Abundance of Love. We thank Judy Samuelson for nominating Gene and helping to orchestrate the event and Jean Collier, Jeri Frazer, and Jen Smith for their help.

Marguerite works tirelessly for Villages Honor Flights and handles all the food needs single handedly. She is active with the Tri-County Lady Vets in their effort to arrange a woman-only Honor Flight to Washington, DC. 

MONDAY MAY 3, 2021 - SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR HER KINDNESS

We had the pleasure of acknowledging a truly amazing lady, Marguerite Desbrow. She  is the main contributor for Villagers for Veterans and has been instrumental in the house project for veteran Pam. 

Marguerite recently taken on projects to assist The Marion Military Academy in Ocala and is the coordinator of the Flags for Vets Ceremony at the Florida National Cemetery on Memorial Day. 

Many of Marguerite's friends were there to add their positive comments to include Gary Kadow, Chairman of Save Our Soldiers (SOS). Marguerite is one of the most truly deserving candidates we have ever honored. Bravo!

Gary was honored for the kindness that he has shown his neighbors, especially at the neighborhood meeting with 200 attendees. Gary is retired Air Force NCO who has been helping people in his community with housing maintenance issues, free of charge. Very generous man... 

Gary has given roses to approximately 20 windows in his community. Sadly, Gary lost his wife of many years, however, he continues to give back to the community. Also, he is actively involved in the Veterans Community.