Kim’s patient Lisa nominated her.  Here is what Lisa had to tell us about Kim:

Dear Storm & Chris:

Kim was my home health care nurse for the last six months.  Every day she came in with compassion, gentleness, and kindness.  She went above and beyond what her duties were and what we were paying her for.  Many times she would come twice a day, just to make sure I was okay.  It was never too early or too late to call her, and she never made me feel silly about the questions I asked.  I truly feel that part of the reason I have recovered from my medical disaster is because of the care she gave me personally.

Susan’s daughter Candace nominated her.  Here is what Candace had to tell us about Susan:

Dear Storm & Chris:

Susan is my mom, my best friend, my everything. She is always there with advice, knows exactly what to say, and stands by my side with everything. This sounds like an average mom, but she is so much more than an average mom, friend, and wife. She does so much for me and my family. We don’t acknowlege her as much as we should, but she is the sweetest women there possibly could be. She loves being around people and animals. My mom always puts EVERYONE before herself, and doesn’t think twice about it. One thing I admire most about my mom is even when times are tough and tight she stays positive and keeps a smile on to keep me and my brother thinking everything will be okay because she knows, in the end, everything will always be okay when we have each other. I believe she deserves this award and I know if she became the Woman of the Week it would make her day.

Sheila’s daughter-in-law Heather nominated her.  Here is what Heather had to tell us about Sheila:

Dear Storm & Chris:

Sheila is my mother-in-law and is the most beautiful and strongest woman I have ever seen. She currently works at Rescare which is a community for handicaped people. She is the Fri- Mon manager at the facility, during the week she not only takes care of her 4 year old grandaughter but also both of her parents. Sheila and her husband moved here from Alaska 4 years ago to help take care of her invalid mother and help me with, at the time my newborn baby, three years later she lost her husband to stroke and diabetes. It has been a long and difficult journey for her, but she has the biggest heart and gives without thinking twice. She amazes me in every way. I never really had a mother growing up and when I married my husband she took me right under her wing. I now know what it feels like to have that bond between a mother and her daughter. There is no ” down time” for her she leaves work and comes home to more work taking care of her mother and father as well as my daughter three days a week. we offered to put lily in daycare so she wouldnt be so burdened but Sheila refused to let her go saying Lily was her sanity in this crazy world. I love her truly and I feel she deserves woman of the week for all of her hard work at Rescare and at home.

Danette’s mother nominated her.  Here is what she had to tell us about Danette:

Dear Storm & Chris:

I would like to nominate my daughter, Danette Drageset, as the KTK Woman of the Week. She has an amazing talent for seeing a need and doing something about it. After serving as a volunteer in a neighboring county’s school mentoring program, Danette was instrumental in starting the Hawks Mentoring Program at High Springs Community School. In its first year Danette recruited over 30 volunteers from the High Springs community who came to school and met weekly with 50+ students as academic and social mentors. Having worked as an educator for 33 years I know that caring adults meeting with students on a regular basis can have a powerfully positive impact on young people’s lives. Danette is busy matching volunteers with students again this year but that didn’t stop her from seeing another need, the Hawks needed a boy’s volleyball coach in order to have a middle school team. In response to that need she stepped in to get the first High Springs boys’ team rolling until she could recruit two talented volunteers to coach the team. Last week that team won the Alachua County Boy’s Volleyball Championship!  In her off time, if you can’t find Danette baking food for someone in need or being a mom chauffeur for her two children, plus a few extra friends; then you will probably hear her singing with the Crosswinds band as they prepare to play at some local venue. As you might have guessed I’m one proud mother, but High Springs is also a richer community because of Danette’s many hours of volunteer work!

Christina’s friend and neighbor April nominated her.  Here is what April had to tell us about Christina:

Dear Storm & Chris:

Christina is my neighbor and a woman who I have admired since I have known her. She is a mom to 5 children, one (an infant) who has special needs and she works full time at Exactech in Human Resources! She juggles family and career along with being an amazing wife and friend. She gives to others and set’s an example to her 5 children about what a role model should be. She is involved and keeps her children involved in church, scouts, team sports, and the community. Chris is someone who I look up to and think the world of. Living next door and seeing the hustle and bustle of her home and the going and coming of all of them is tiring and at the same time, inspiring. She is a strong, devoted woman, mom and career woman. Someone we should all look up to!

Carol’s friend Tom nominated her.  Here is what Tom had to say about Carol:

Dear Storm & Chris:

Carol is a single mom of 4, who works 6 days a week to support her family and is the best friend of all her kids and all their friends.  She always has around 7 or 8 of her kids’ friends at her house. and even on her limited income she will feed and care for all of them.  She has even taken in one of the kids friends who’s father kicked him out with no place to go.  On top of all that (whitch is a lot by itself) she is always there for all her friends and relitaves, whenever someone needs help of any kind she is the first to show up and do whatever needs to be done to help.  She will help them move, clean, do work around their house, take their kids to school or out for fun or entertainment, or just sit with them and listen if they need a friend.  She just had surgery and is still cooking and cleaning for all those who show up at her house.  And even though she hasn’t been able to work for a week she is still making ends meet somehow.  This woman never thinks about herself – she is a true hero!  People like her are very rare and should be recognized in any way possible.  Anything you could do to let her know how much she means to all those who know her would be a gift long overdue.  If you knew her you would all love her as much as we do.  She is a truly special person.  If there were more people like Carol this would be a much better world!

Marsha’s son Daniel nominated her.  Here is what Daniel told us about his mother:

Dear Storm & Chris:

 

Laura Land is not only an outgoing professional, but my favorite person in the world. My mother is an entertainer at home, a no-nonsense negotiator in sales, and a true professional in her office. Having her realtor’s license as well as being well versed in traditional farming operations, her true passion lies within the family’s watermelon brokerage and shipping business. In late April she and her team start shipping watermelons from South Florida. Just before Labor Day, they finish up with the last crop in Indiana, working the way north all summer long. At the end of the season with over 3500 loads shipped, she completes all the follow up paperwork through out the off season. Working 6AM until way into the night, Mother is steadfast in her profession, all the while taking great care of my father, brother, and me. It is with a humble and thankful heart that I nominate my mother, my best friend for the KTK Woman of the Week. There is no other hardworking, loving, person more deserving. Best regards, Ray Land  Listen to Laura’s story:

My mom deserves The Woman of The Week award because she gives so much to our community and for once, deserves to be recognized. Not only does my mother have the responsibility of running her own Civil Engineering business, she gives at least 16 hours of her week to Boy Scout Troop 411 of Ocala, Florida. Not only does she put in multiple hours to plan each meeting, she plans, organizes and attends all camping trips, service events and service projects. My mother has been involved in scouting for almost fifteen years, raising my 19 year old sister and I as girl scouts, and now our 13 year old brother as a Boy Scout. We sometimes joke that my mom should get paid for all the work she does for scouting because it is like a part-time job. It is thanks to people like my mom, who dedicate their time to service organizations, that there is some hope in raising young men and women to be responsible and respectful future leaders with good morals. There are many other scout leaders all across the globe that deserve to be recognized as well; and should be honored and thanked for taking it upon themselves to instill strong foundations in our future leaders. Gladly, my mother gives her time to benefit the lives of others, looking for no reward in return. In my eyes, my mom is the Woman of The Week every week. I would like this opportunity to show her how much I (and many others) appreciate all that she does as a mother and for her community.  Listen to Anissa’s story: 7.01.10.3.Woman of the Week Anissa Brescia

Dr. Theresa Harrison has worked tirelessly in Gainesville to promote and educate the community concerning women’s issues and to protect them against violence and homelessness.  Her work at Peaceful Paths as Executive Director is only part of her story. She also works with the Alachua County Hungry and Homeless Coalition and the Junior League.  This past year, Theresa has led Peaceful Paths through a devastating fire and they have just re-opened their Outreach Office.  Services continued during the time of transition.  Dr. Harrison is an excellent Woman of the Week for WKTK. Thank you for your consideration.  Listen to Theresa’s story: 6.24.10.5.Woman of the Week Theresa Harrison