Rev. Diane Parrish wins 11Alive Community Service Award

Our own Diane Parrish has been announced a winner of this year’s 11Alive Community Service Award. Each year, 11Alive honors 11 outstanding local volunteers who have demonstrated selfless devotion for the betterment of the community. 11Alive News Anchors Brenda Wood and Ted Hall host the live, prime time telecast. Proceeds from the event go to charity.

Diane was selected for her involvement with Camp Hope, part of kidz2leaders, inc., which she started in 1999 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization. Camp Hope is for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade children whose parents are incarcerated in the state of Georgia. The purpose of Camp Hope is to help each child learn that they are precious in God’s eyes and to provide a positive, fun-filled week away from the worries of their world.

Teens from Mt. Bethel UMC and surrounding churches spend one week every summer in a one-to-one counselor/camper relationship with these children. Adults serve as cabin “moms” and “dads” as well as in director positions to help in all camp activities. The goal is to provide plenty of food, songs and FUN - but most of all, to help those campers understand that no matter what their circumstances are, no matter what paths others in their lives have taken, that they are precious children of God with a special future of their own — that there is HOPE!!

Congratulations on the award Diane!