South West Illinois News

A Monroe County woman is being recognized at the state level for her selflessness in dedicating her life to serving others, even though she is confined to a wheelchair.

State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) celebrated Violette Nast who recently was awarded the 2022 Governor's Volunteer Service Award.

"It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Violette Nast on her exceptional accomplishment," Friess said in a Sept. 19 press release. "Violette was our nominee for the Governors Volunteer Service Award 2022. We are grateful for her continued work in our community. Volunteers like her make a bigger impact than any of us realize, so I'm honored for the opportunity to recognize her today."

Nast was selected from more than 60 other nominees for this year's senior category based on her service with Hospice, Monroe-Randolph County Transit, and St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, according to the release.  She doesn't let the fact that she's confined to a wheelchair stop her from helping others and has dedicated her life to giving back in any way that she can. She even recently helped back 175 pies for the mission fund at St. Paul's.

The Service Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service was looking for nominees to give the awards to three people, one in each age category. The awards honors those who have shown dedication to serving the community across the state, in each of the commission's five service areas. The three age groups are youth ages 19 and under, adults ages 19-54, and retirees/seniors ages 55 and older.

Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Michelle R. B. Saddler said the awards give the commission a change to "thank and honor those people who have made a positive change" in their communities.