SubmittedBetty Cromer (left) and Regenia Wells (right), co-chairs of the Exchange Club Golden Deeds Award program, present Laura Maxwell (center) with the 65th Annual Book of Golden Deeds Award at a banquet held in her honor.

TIFTON — Laura Maxwell was recently honored with the 65th Annual Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award, according to a press release.

The Book of Golden Deeds Award is a national project of the Exchange Club that recognizes dedicated volunteers who give endless hours of their time and talents toward making their communities better places to live. The Golden Deeds award is the longest running project of the Exchange Club of Tifton and was renamed in honor of longtime chairperson Helen Rainer, who passed away in 2013.

Maxwell is the president and one of the founders of Called to Care, Inc., a local orphan care ministry. What began in 2013 as a desire to reach the children in foster care in Tift County, has since grown beyond anyone’s expectations. The ministry is now an official 501(c)3, with more than 10 chapters and more than 400 volunteers around South Georgia, and still growing.

Called to Care’s efforts include meeting the physical needs of children and families in crisis, whether it be clothing and school supplies or beds and appliances.

Called to Care supports both foster children, biological and foster parents both emotionally and spiritually as well, providing education and training on fostering and adopting.

“The success of Called to Care would not be possible without the vision and tireless efforts of Laura Maxwell,” said Judge Render Heard, in the press release. “Laura has followed God’s calling to provide for the needs of children, foster parents and case managers in our area. Her importance to this mission cannot be understated.”

Called to Care board members, friends, colleagues and professionals all raved about what an asset Maxwell is to this community and the foster care community all over Georgia.

As part of her work with Called to Care, Maxwell and other volunteers spend time speaking to civic organizations, churches, businesses, schools and others to raise awareness.

“Laura’s passion is to ease the suffering of innocent children and it would be impossible to list all her efforts in doing that,” said Maghan Campbell, Called to Care board member. “There is no doubt, Laura Maxwell is changing the world, one child at a time.”

Maxwell is married to Landon and they have four children, Madsen, Drue, Will and Lucy. When not doing the work of Called to Care, she is a pre-school teacher, Sunday School teacher and Wednesday night church children’s coordinator at First Baptist Church. She is also active in other areas of the community, as well as with her children’s schools.

Coordinators of the 65th awarding of the Book of Golden Deeds Award were Betty Cromer and Regenia Wells. Tyron Spearman, past president of the Exchange Club of Tifton, recognized the 64 previous recipients.