The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley’s virtual “Breakfast With Champions” series, which honored outstanding volunteers around the Lehigh Valley during April, wrapped up April 28-30 with the recognition of the final entrants into the “Volunteer Team” category and a celebration of all the nominees.

The first volunteer team recognition went to members of the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown for their work with the Sixth Street Shelter, Turner Street and Ferry Street apartments.

Sixth Street staff noted that many different age groups from First Presbyterian regularly volunteer with the shelter, all of whom contribute special skills and “have found ways to both improve the shelter and uplift our residents’ spirits.

“Whether by gathering for a workday of painting, cleaning and organizing, or hosting a party filled with fun and games, First Presbyterian congregants share their time throughout the year in lots of different ways. They are always ready to lend a hand!”

The next volunteer team honorees were members from The Hartford, led and organized by Michelle McKessey, who were nominated by the Third Street Alliance for Women and Children.

“While spending a day at Third Street Alliance for Women and Children, this team cleaned out areas, moved items, and painted areas around the shelter,” Third Street staff wrote for the group’s celebratory post.

“They accomplished many tasks in a short amount of time.”

The final recognition for the 2020 “Breakfast With Champions” was the Food Pantry volunteer team - Tim Talaber, Debbie Allen, Curt Day, Linda Day, Anne Wardak, Kathy Alvaro, Bob Buck, Donna Mears and Ursula Bosch - from the Sixth Street Shelter.

Shelter staff thanked the volunteers for dedicating their time every week to run the food pantry, which serves 200 people in their neighborhood, and manage the flow of visiting clients.

They show up, rain or shine, to make sure that underserved people in our community are able to receive food,” the staff wrote.

“We truly would not be able to make this benefit available without their help and we thank them on behalf of the community.”

Finally, to celebrate the conclusion of “Breakfast With Champions,” the Volunteer Center posted a commemorative video slideshow April 30 highlighting the nominees across all seven categories, as well as the award and scholarship winners announced at the beginning of April.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us this month for our fantastically successful Breakfast With Champions 2020!!” the Volunteer Center wrote in the video’s post. “See you next year for Breakfast for Champions 2021!”

All entries for the “Breakfast With Champions” series can be found online at the Volunteer Center’s Facebook page at facebook.com/volunteerlv.