OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS

Wes Barr and Madelyn Woodruff

Anyone who has read our past Best of Springfield editions knows exactly who Wes Barr is. He’s our perennial winner in this category, easily clenching it several years running. Barr, a fixture in the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, serves in so many volunteer roles that it’s hard to name them all. He coordinates the local Toys for Tots drive, is president of the board at Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, works on the United Cerebral Palsy telethon every year, and does tons more. But this year, we decided to also give credit to another local volunteer who got a lot of votes. Madelyn Woodruff of Springfield has volunteered for nine years with The Red Cross Meals on Wheels program, which delivers nutritious, lowcost or free meals to seniors, disabled people and others. Previously a second-grade teacher at Dubois Elementary School for 31 years, Woodruff also volunteers for the after-school program at her church, Douglas Avenue United Methodist, and at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center, which ships disaster relief supplies, educational materials and medical supplies around the world. “I think it’s important to help others and to serve mankind,” Woodruff says. “There are some people who cannot get out of the house, and I would like to think that someone would come to my aid if I were in need.”