Volunteer breakfast tomorrow and Friday!

I’ll never forget the first time I met Sharon Mitchell. She was one of 23 people that Jo Bright suggested be interviewed for “Mabee Babies,” the video about the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club. Sharon is a loyal, long-time North Mabee volunteer and she had plenty of stories to share with the filmmakers.  At the end of the interview, the producer surprised her by asking her to sing “This Little Light of Mine.” She was reluctant at first, but ending up singing such a soulful interpretation of the old favorite that everyone had tears in their eyes by the time she finished.  When Sharon does something, she does it well. That plus her long hours of creatively teaching club kids are probably what won her the North Mabee Volunteer of the Year Award.  “I told God that if I retire and I’m not broke I’m going to do something for the kids,” she said today at the Volunteer Appreciation  Breakfast. It was a beautiful breakfast and you get two more chances to attend.

Enjoy it tomorrow and Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at The Salvation Army Area Command on 924 S. Hudson.

Sharon’s daughter also volunteers at North Mabee  teaching ballet classes twice a week. Sharon’s granddaughter takes the classes, making three generations of Sharon's family at North Mabee. Sharon bubbles over with ideas for club projects and she delighted in telling Jo (North Mabee director), Jenny McElyea  (volunteer coordinator) and me about them this morning. Education and history are important to Sharon. Her father helped people register to vote during the Civil Rights era. She said that during that time, one foolish Tulsa mayoral candidate announced that he didn’t need the black vote. “And guess what,” Sharon said, “he didn’t get elected! For the 4th of July, Sharon wants to have the North Mabee club kids learn about voting and actually vote in an election at the club. If the kids want to elect the “most enthusiastic volunteer” Sharon sure has my vote!

-Sallie