During a June 2002 White House meeting, President Bush met with corporate leaders from organizations across the nation and key White House staff members to discuss objectives for his Businesses Strengthening America volunteerism campaign. Steve Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer was among the select group. Following the White House session, Smith administered the creation of Food City’s annual Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program, to reward outstanding volunteerism among their associates.
“Throughout the years, our company has wholly dedicated itself to serving the citizens of the communities in which we operate,” said Smith. “Many of our associates volunteer their time and talents to numerous organizations in support of their communities and we felt it needful to formally recognize their selfless contributions.”
Befittingly, the program was entitled in memory of Food City’s beloved former president and board vice-chairman of 47 years, Claude P. Varney. Varney was well-known for his tremendous compassion and humanitarian services.
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Each year, special committees are established to review associate volunteer activities and select individual award recipients based on outstanding achievement in the areas of health, education, environment, cultural arts, recreational, heritage/history and public service. One winner is selected from each location. Store winners then move on to compete at district level, where ten overall district winners are selected.
After reviewing the numerous organizations to which they volunteer their time and talents, it’s not hard to see why these individuals were selected to receive the volunteerism award for their district:
Seth Davenport, a cashier at the Damascus Food City, was honored as the Washington County winner. Davenport, who has worked at the store for one year and 10 months, has been helping coach Upward football and basketball for four years. Davenport teaches at the summer training camps held at Emory & Henry College.
He has also helped coach at the Junior Cavs football and basketball camps for three years. For the past six years, Davenport has taken part in the United Way/4-H backpacks for kids program that helps fill backpacks with food for students to take home each Friday afternoon.
In addition, Davenport spends four hours each Friday during football season taking part in the Rhea Valley Elementary School Eat & Play Program. The program allows the elementary schoolers to select a football player to eat lunch with that each Friday. Davenport eats lunch with the students and then takes them to the playground, where he focuses on the one child for the day.
Davenport also takes part in the animal food drive sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of America and for the past five years has been involved in the Creeper Trail Clean Up.
Another Washington County winner was Dean Trent, a receiving clerk with K-Va-T for the past 37 years. Trent won the district 10 competition.
A six-year member of the Old Glade Tractor Club, Trent helps restore old farm equipment, conducts demonstrations at the county fair and at local schools and plants and harvest crops to donate to Feeding America Food Bank.
The district winners attended a special corporate luncheon, where they were publicly recognized for their outstanding service achievements with an award and a $250 contribution to their charity of choice. From among the district winners, two divisional winners will next be selected and honored with a plaque and a $500 charity contribution. And finally, one overall winner will be selected to receive the prestigious Claude P. Varney Humanitarian Award and be publicly recognized for their outstanding achievements in addition to a $1,000 charity contribution made on their behalf.
“We’re extremely proud of the difference our associates make through their many humanitarian contributions. Our company is committed to providing our associates the support they need to become the best corporate citizens possible,” summarized Smith.
