Matt Hamilton/The Daily CitizenDavid Blaylock accepts the Connie Woodward Award from Jim Hawkins.

DALTON, Ga. — Northwest Whitfield High School senior Makina Cook volunteers with various projects around the area, but she doesn’t view her role as part of some vast network.

For her, it is the quiet moments and the one-on-one interactions that have the most impact.

“I like just knowing that I can make someone’s day just by doing a little thing,” said Cook, who was one of the honorees Tuesday at the United Way of Northwest Georgia’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Awards event. “It doesn’t have to be a big, huge production to help people out. Just to see a kid or a parent smile just because of something that you think is small makes my day.”

Cook was named as a recipient of one of two $5,000 scholarships honoring the memory of former Shaw Industries Director of Human Resources Elbert Shaw. She was also honored as the Youth Volunteer of the Year from a pool of nearly 400 middle school, high school and college students.

“It means a lot to be recognized this way,” Cook said. “I gave to the community, but I wasn’t expecting anything back because it just means so much to me just to be able to help out.”

In addition to her volunteer efforts, Cook is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish National Honor Society and the Girls Service Club as well as a cheerleader at her school.

The other recipient of the Elbert Shaw scholarship was Katherine Baxter of North Murray High School.

 

The United Way honored all things big and small at the meeting at Stage 123 in downtown Dalton. Outgoing Board Chair Karen Townsend said the organization had met its 2016 fundraising goal of $3.8 million under the leadership of Campaign Chair Tom Bundros, the CEO of Dalton Utilities.

“Simply stated, United Way connects people in need with people who can help,” Townsend said. “Almost 60,000 lives were touched by United Way in 2016 alone. Our United Way brings diverse groups of people together to create lasting change and improve lives by focusing on the building blocks of a good life — education, basic needs and health.”

The United Way claimed more than 33,511 hours of volunteer service by 3,287 volunteers. Townsend said that represented an economic impact of nearly $800,000 to the community.

Townsend turned the chair position for the new year over to Matthew Moore of Shaw Industries, while Joe Young of Engineered Floors will be the campaign chair for 2017.

David Blaylock was named the Volunteer of the Year for Whitfield County. The award was given in the name of Connie Woodward, who was presented with the inaugural volunteer award by the agency.

Marian Strahan was named the Volunteer of the Year for Murray County, which is given in memory of Elaine Butler, who was a longtime volunteer and organizer in that county.