This is our fifth and final week to honor some incredible people in the Charleston area! Congratulations to our Week Five Champions who will each receive a pair of Hoka shoes, thanks to the generous support of Hoka One One!

Thank you for all the nominations that were submitted. We are a better community because of the kindness and generosity around us.

 

Callie Neal

Brion Rutherford made the nomination saying that "During this pandemic Summerville High School has to make a rapid shift from supporting students face to face in the classroom to supporting students remotely using technology. Callie has lead the way for our teachers, school counselors, and leadership team by providing constant support, creative ideas for connecting with kids, and having a positive attitude towards this huge challenge."

FF: How long have you been working in your current field? 

Callie: I have been an English teacher at Summerville High for 6 years, and I am serving SHS this year as an Instructional Technology Specialist, which is basically a Tech Coach for teachers.

FF: What is your favorite part of your job? 

Callie:I love helping teachers find a different, more creative way to deliver content – especially when it saves them time and gives them more space to work with their kids! Our teachers make my job easy because they are eager to learn. I couldn’t imagine not working in a school. I laugh every single day, and I get to see kids go from not being able to drive a car as freshmen to getting to see their next steps when they graduate, whether it’s college, military, or the workforce. Seeing a kid get that “lightbulb moment” never gets old!

FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances? 

Callie: It’s hard to not be right beside someone to help them when they are learning a new skill – especially right as we are learning how to deliver content to students online! Microsoft Teams will allow me to “meet” with my teachers, though, to share my screen and to see their screens, so it’s just about as good as being in person!

FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress? 

Callie: I regularly attend Burn Boot Camp, and I love the variety they provide between strength days and HIIT days. I also love getting to take classes at HY LO and The Works through Class Pass. It’s been really fun to get to explore new neighborhoods and areas of town while the gyms have been closed. Even when things are stressful and busy, I feel like it’s so important to take some time to move your body and clear your head!

David Shank

was nominated by Cara Subasic who stated the following: "David has been a firefighter since he started volunteering in high school. That became a part time job which turned into a full time career. It's truly his dream job and he always looks forward to going to work, even in the midst of this uncertain COVID-19 world. We got married on February 29th, 2020 and headed out on our long anticipated honeymoon (he had been saving his vacation days for a year). Due to COVID-19 we had to cut that trip early. But he didn't complain. Then we had to quarantine at home for two weeks which led right into the state order to stay at home. He still maintained sanity and SO looked forward to going back to work after our 2 week quarantine. To prepare for his 24 hour shifts, he stopped by Fleet Feet to get new sneakers and insoles. He only buys them from your store because he knows they hold up on the job. Unfortunately they were stolen from our porch only a couple of days after he purchased them. He was frustrated but has continued working hard - taking overtime shifts that keep him at the firehouse for 48 hours straight. Then when he gets home, he switches to his role as Communications Director of the fire fighter's union for the state of SC. The city never sleeps and his job never rests. But I know a new pair of sneakers would make his week!"  

FF: How long have you been working in your current field? 

David: "7 years."

FF: What is your favorite part of your job? 

David: "I love interacting and building a relationship with the community I serve."

FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances? 

David: "Properly protecting myself at work so I can keep my family healthy and safe when I come home from shift."

FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress? 

David: "Yoga." 

David: "I’m honored to be selected as one of your Community Champions. I’m just one  of thousands of firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers, nurses and doctors who are our their right now serving their communities."

Wendi Kobylarz

was nominated by Dr. Eugene Mayeaux who shared: "Wendi has been working around the clock in the Emergency Department during the COVID scare for almost one month (at the time the nomination was made). She is the primary breadwinner for her family and has triplets. She had worked tirelessly and unselfishly to keep us - the staff -and the entire community safe"  

FF: Tell us about what you are doing.  

Wendi: "I have been an ER nurse for 23 years and the Clinical Director of the ER for 11 years."

FF: What is your favorite part of your job? 

Wendi: "My favorite part of my job is caring for patients and families."

FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances? 

Wendi: "The most challenging part of my job under the current circumstances is being able to keep all of the ER staff, myself, and as much of the community as we can free of illness."

FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress? 

Wendi: "Spartan Obstacle course races." 

 

Marya Blocker

was nominated by Drea Turpin who shared: "Marya began making homemade masks with filters when the shortage became apparent. In a little over 3 weeks she's sewn and given out over 650 masks (this was the count at the time the nomination was made) for free to families, healthcare workers, elderly, and anyone in need. All of this sewing and cutting 6 pieces for each fitted mask with both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis."  

FF: Tell us about what you are doing.  

Marya: "I am making masks... Filtered, 100% washable, reusable masks.  I have been sewing for decades but it isn't a main source of income for me.  When the pandemic is over, I will start making something else other than masks, which will actually be a relief to know it is all over.  I have collected a fair amount of fabric over the years and when I started making masks and giving them away, my collection actually got bigger.  When people heard that I was giving them away, I started getting donations of fabric and other supplies to help me continue making them for free.  The only thing I have actually asked for is shipping costs from people out of the area."

FF: What is your favorite part of your job? 

Marya: "Getting new/different fabrics...seeing the same pattern for a few dozen masks can be monotonous... choosing different combinations also is fun for me."

FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances? 

Marya: "When I get an order for 25, 50 and more ...and they need them within a day or 2... the cutting, sewing, ironing, etc... it can be hard on the hands and the feet as well as the eyes (they tend to cross after a while)."

FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress? 

Marya: "Either walking through our neighborhood or working in my gardens would be my favorite activities." 

Marya: "I am honored and blessed to even be nominated let alone chosen... but I couldn't have done it without the donations of fabric, the couple of people I have helping me cut the patterns out to save me time per mask, etc..."