Community Awards
2021: Sasha Aber
It is with great pleasure that NAWC announces Sasha Aber as the recipient of our Polly Sierer Community Leader Award. NAWC established this award in honor of our longstanding president: Polly Sierer. The award recognizes an outstanding individual or group who has taken a lead role in developing a solution to a current issue to help support neighbors in our community.
Sasha's nomination stood out among the others. Nominees said the following about her leadership to our community during the past year: When faced with the restrictions that came with the pandemic, Sasha Aber and her staff repurposed the popular longtime Newark restaurant as a place of giving. Home Grown Cafe reached out to its customers and the Newark Community for help. The initiative Adopt-A-Unit at Christiana Care was born to help those that are helping us. Within a very short period of time over $24,472 was raised including over 466 donors serving over 3,250 meals to Christiana Care healthcare workers. Locations include Newark, Wilmington, and Middletown. The effort allowed donors to purchase meals that Home Grown Cafe would make and deliver. This effort not only helped front-line workers but also allowed Sasha to keep more staff employed at Home Grown Cafe during the pandemic.
2021: Beverly stout & bob Lucas
NAWC is thrilled to celebrate two of our long-lasting volunteers: Beverly Stoudt and Bob Lucas. The Lifelong Achievement Award recognizes dedicated individuals who have volunteered with NAWC for over 10 years. The nominees have inspired other volunteers, led a committee, or made other achievements through NAWC. Both Beverly and Bob have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors in need and have made significant contributions to the Newark community through their volunteer efforts with NAWC. We are deeply grateful for their years of service.
2019: National 5 & 10
The Handloff Family (owners of the National 5 & 10) and their store have been long-time advocates and supporters of NAWC and the general betterment of Newark. Recipient of the Good Neighbor Award.
2019 Award at the Volunteer Appreciation Reception
2018: The New Century Club
The club has made grants to local nonprofits since 2015 grant recipients include a broad spectrum of community service, arts, and historical groups with preference to groups that feed or house the poor. Founded in 1893, the club's early projects included helping support a community library and the women’s college at UD. Members also donated to various women’s and children’s charities and supported World War II troops.
2017: Networks School for Employability Skills
For years the Networks program has supported NAWC with its multi-faceted expertise. Networks prepare students to become productive members of a workforce. This is accomplished by combining career technical education and employability skill training through the operation of 11 community-based enterprise areas.
2016: Marilyn Minster of Minster's Jewelers
Mrs. Minster and Minster Jewelers have been an advocate of NAWC for several decades, particularly through her support of our Food Cupboard Program and Bean Soup sales.
2015: Newark Charitable and Social Club
This year’s recipient has supported NAWC for years through their annual auction.
2014: Paul & Eileen Keely of King Medical Systems
This recipient has been involved with NAWC for four years and their printing company graciously produces the organization’s promotional materials for free or at a discount.
Mrs. Marilyn Minster of Minster's Jewelers,
Recipient of the 2016 NAWC Good Neighbor Award.
2013: Office Movers, Inc.
This recipient has donated 350-400 large moving boxes each December so that we may provide food to families in crisis in the Newark area. They have been our partners for many, many years. This enables us to give approx. 75 lbs. of food to each family. The donation of these boxes is a very important part of our Holiday Food Program.
2012: Doris and Jack Billingsley, and Joan Collins
We recognize these Newark neighbors for their generous and continued support of our programs as we continue to provide services to those in our neighborhoods who need our services.
2011: Delaware Freezer
This recipient provides storage for our turkey donations during our Holiday Food Box collection program and has assisted NAWC for many years.
2010: Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church
This recipient organizes our yearly Triple Crown Trail Race to benefit four local organizations that help those in need in our area, including NAWC, and raises generous funds that are donated to NAWC.
2009: First Presbyterian Church of Newark
This recipient allowed us to use their Memorial Hall facility and church staff assistance for our Holiday Food Box project each December.
2008: Newark United Methodist Church
This recipient provided us space for our food cupboard as well as for all of our meetings.