The Power of Service Award is presented up to three times per year to a volunteer who shows significant commitment to the overall well-being of the populations they serve. In November of 2021, The Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism was delighted to honor Sarah Yates for her dedication to serving her Brigham City community.
Sarah was originally nominated for the Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate by Tracey Mellard. We thank Tracey for the following description of Sarah’s service.
“Sarah Yates, a native of Utah and pillar of the Brigham City community, has served with Acts Six Soup Kitchen for 36 years. She is a founding member who has served thousands of meals to locals and has been an active Executive Board Member since 1986, and has also served as our Secretary.
She is active with several other nonprofits, the AAUW of Utah, the Interfaith Council and Community Presbyterian Church serving in various roles that help her community.
She has helped the Historic Preservation Commission in Brigham City, being mentioned as a person of interest in the Brigham City History Project.
She has many accomplishments including Editor of Box Elder Journal, Author, Speaker, and a Community Citizenship Award are just a few she has been recognized for. She is a beloved member of our community who has shown with her actions the importance of ‘giving back’.”
Sarah was presented with the Power of Service Award during the virtual UServeUtah Commission Meeting on November 18th, 2021. She was eager to tell the commission about her many experiences over the years, and one of the most important lessons she has learned was that by addressing her community’s physical needs, she was also addressing a different kind of hunger.
“Our service was not only for people hungry for food, but hungry for fellowship…A lot of friendships were developed for people who may not have had very many friends…We don’t only feed their bodies, we feed their souls.”
-Sarah Yates
The Chair of the Commission on Service and Volunteerism, Karen McCandless, was overjoyed to recognize Sarah for serving a cause dear to her own heart. As CEO of Community Action Services and Food Bank, Karen is well aware of the significant impact that volunteers make in addressing critical community needs. She echoed the commission’s appreciation for Sarah feeding both the body and soul of those in need.
We thank Sarah for her continued service, and congratulate her for receiving the Power of Service Award.