Volunteers of the Year | Peggy Weaver and Marcie Patton

We rely on volunteers in every aspect of our mission. Our Red Apron Volunteers are dedicated and have the heart to make a difference. Our 318 volunteers selflessly devote thousands of hours for the betterment of our organization, and we could not do this work without them. In 2023 alone, they contributed over 22,000 hours, valued at more than $718K, for BSH. Congrats to our 2023 Volunteers of the Year – Peggy Weaver, and Marcie Patton. Read more about these two incredible neighbors who are making a difference every day.

Peggy Weaver embodies the model Basic Needs Volunteer! Serving in both the Resource Hub and the Market, she willingly tackles nearly any task at BSH. Peggy joined the team in November 2021 after relocating to Bluffton from New York. She swiftly immersed herself in learning the various assignments in the food market. Peggy quickly emerged as a standout contributor, taking ownership of projects and offering solutions to challenges. During her first holiday season, mere weeks after becoming a volunteer, Peggy became an invaluable asset to the execution of our holiday programming by managing the parent checkout station and overseeing operations at the main warehouse receiving bay. For the past two holiday seasons, she has demonstrated her keen attention to detail and organizational skills by assisting in structuring family toy registration and distribution with our new intake procedures. In 2023, during our transition to Caseworthy, Peggy quickly adapted, earning system admin privileges and the title of BSH’s “super de-duper”! Beyond her remarkable contributions, Peggy’s most cherished trait lies in the size of her heart and her dedication to the success of BSH’s mission.

For the past two years, Marcie Patton has been working with adult learners at our Hilton Head Learning & Literacy Center, focusing on level 1 ESL students. Marcie stands as an exemplary tutor, demonstrating compassion, patience, and respect towards her students. Under her guidance, her classes have achieved remarkable milestones; for instance, all her students scored 100% on their Unit 2 test this past fall, a testament to Marcie’s exceptional teaching methodology. She leverages real-life scenarios and authentic materials to forge connections with her students, making learning a vivid experience. Marcie’s unwavering commitment to each student’s education is inspiring. She passionately advocates for Bluffton Self Help and shares our information with those who need it most. We can always count on Marcie to assist us at our Hilton Head Learning & Literacy Center, whether it involves helping staff with opening and closing duties or aiding students in understanding complex topics. Marcie’s passion for giving to others has helped many students embark on their English language journey, bringing them closer to their goals. Marcie, we are incredibly fortunate to have you as a BSH volunteer tutor. Thank you for all you do for our students!