We are excited to annnounce our Community Champions for the second week! Congratulations and thank you for your work to help make the best current situation as you work to help others. Each Champion will receive a pair of Hoka shoes, thanks to the generous support of Hoka One One!
It's not too late to nominate someone. We will recognize another group of Champions next week!
Mary Ann Koller
was nominated by Rico Gabriel nominated who stated the following: "Mary Ann has been working with her National Guard unit in conjunction with the pandemic in case anything were to happen. When she hasn't been with her unit, she has been working at Harris Teeter still serving the community. She has always been a helper and leader but most of all a runner. One thing that always helps her with the stress of life and the current situation is going for a run and I know she is wearing down her current Hokas."
FF: How long have you been working in your current field?
Mary Ann: I have been in the Army National Guard since 2016, and I have been working at a grocery store since 2019.
FF: What is your favorite part of your job?
Mary Ann: My favorite part of my job is getting to know my Soldiers. In both jobs, I have a chance to serve the community. I enjoy that!
FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances?
Mary Ann: The most challenging part right now is just hoping that family, friends, and everyone in the community is staying safe. It's a challenging time for everyone.
FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress?
Mary Ann: I know it's cheesy, but definitely running! I love distance. It gives me time to relax, be calm, and be in my head.
FF: We don't think it's cheesy at all Mary Ann! In fact, we are kinda partial to running!
Nicholas Powell
Justin Hart made the nomination saying that "Nick is an awesome guy who has overcome stage 4 cancer. He is now an ultra marathoner who runs endless miles in his favorite shoes, Hoka Arahi, for 3 + years. On top of his personal hurdles and physical accomplishments, he works endlessly as a seasoned investigator who is the go to guy for many of the police department’s needs. Nick is on call 24/7 and has to abandon his personal time to work endlessly on solving high profile cases usually dealing with child fatalities, murders, and other violent crimes. His perseverance and mental endurance in his professional life is mirrored in his physical accomplishments and will to live."
FF: How long have you been working in your current field?
Nicholas: I have been employed with the Goose Creek Police Department for approximately thirteen years now. I have spent ten of those years with the criminal investigation division in which I’ve worked a variety of different specialties to include narcotics, crime scene, major case, and most recently supervision for the past two and a half years.
FF: What is your favorite part of your job?
Nicholas: My favorite part of the job is working with my co-workers to solve each new case that comes in and finding new and inventive ways to solve them. Not everything we do is glamorous as you see on television and requires a lot of hours of paperwork to get the job done.
FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances?
Nicholas: I’d say our current challenges involve responding to scenes to maintain the safety of both law enforcement and community; especially those scenes which require additional equipment such as death investigations. We have continued our dedication to the citizens in our response and have learned to adapt the manner in which we address each scene.
FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress?
Nicholas: My favorite way to relieve stress is to continue to stay active each and every day. I wake up each day around 0500 hours and hit the gym before work for approximately 1.5 hours. This involves a combination of cardio and upper body. On my days off I enjoy going for long runs which involve both on road and off road routes in which I switch between my Arahi’s and my Speedgoat’s to get me through each of my runs. I have been known to run 8.5 miles before work each day as well, but have integrated biking into my routine as summer time is approaching which means I’ll be participating in triathlons in additional to the variety of races I compete in.
Diane Annand
was nominated by her friend Amy Scott who wrote, "I want to nominate Diane because she is a nurse on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic- literally. She works at MUSC downtown in family medicine, but has worked in the COVID testing tent when needed. Also, she has transitioned to doing some telehealth visits from home since the outbreak began. During all of this, she's still running and walking or doing some form of exercise most every day. In normal times, Diane is an avid volunteer for Charleston Running Club and attends our group runs and the Pub Runs. Nurses like Diane are on their feet a LOT and she deserves a new pair of shoes for either running or for work!"
FF: How long have you been working in your current field?
Diane: I have been a registered nurse for 37 years. I have been at MUSC Family Medicine for 10 of those years.
FF: What is your favorite part of your job?
Diane: When a patient is ready to make a change in their life style and have no idea where to start, we talk about baby steps...one new food, one new activity and let them know there is so much support at MUSC and in the community, they just need to take the first step, which is to ask.
FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances?
Diane: Not being able to help or teach those who do not have electronics and have some type of challenge. Many of the patients need hands on assistance and that is not easily accomplished at this time.
FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress?
Diane: Lately, walking. I've struggled with a foot injury since December, so I've been walking. When I run, I like to listen to music. Now, I take walks and listen to the birds and children playing in their yards and look at all that is in bloom in the Old Village this spring. I've walked down roads I have never been on before. Very peaceful.
Heather Kemble
was nominated by Lolli Haugh who shared..."Heather has done an amazing job of keeping the craziness of the the Beech Hill Elementary office organized while school was in session but now that she has more 'free time' she has joined Hearts of Summerville and not only identified needy families, but through her Facebook page has helped raise donations from money to food to basketballs and even bikes and then delivered them daily to those families in need. The number of lives she has touched is countless and she along with others have shopped for and provided groceries to those who otherwise would go without. She is a true hometown hero!! "
FF: Tell us a little bit about where you work/what you do:
Heather: By day, I am fortunate to be a part of the Beech Hill Elementary community, and I love what I do and all of my Beacons. With schools having to transition to distance learning, I miss them so very much and have begun volunteering with Hearts for Summerville so that I can still have the opportunity to see and serve children each evening. Hearts for Summerville is currently serving over 250 kids from newborn to age 19. While the greater intent is to follow these students as they grow and offer support to them and their families, we have found that food is a great need right now and it is often difficult for some of our families to make it to feeding sites for any number of reasons. We are fortunate that the community has responded with great generosity, allowing us to head out every night armed with groceries, books, pet food, treats and smiles to visit with our kids. We visit each child once a week and are really getting to know them and their personalities and needs.
FF: What is your favorite part of your job?
Heather: The best part of this is the love we are experiencing from our kids and their families- they now run to us when we pull up, smile, laugh, call us by name, and tell us all sorts of stories. They love the books that we are handing out and often will retell the stories the next time we see them. In just the 6 weeks we have been doing this we are seeing them begin to trust us, to let us into their lives.
FF: What is the most challenging part of your job under the current circumstances?
Heather: The most challenging part of this is seeing places in our own backyards that still have so much need, and wanting to give great big hugs but having to adhere to social distancing!!
FF: What is your favorite activity to stay healthy and relieve stress?
Heather: My favorite healthy activity is walking with my daughters; with the beautiful weather we are having we usually are able to walk at least twice a day throughout our neighborhood. I am so grateful to the Summerville community and to Fleet Feet for recognizing the value in our efforts and being so generous.
Do you know someone who is:
-Working long hours on the frontlines in healthcare or as a first responder?
- Or keeping shelves stocked, preparing pick-up orders and making deliveries at our grocery stores?
- Someone who has been laid off because of business closures that is finding creative ways to continue to support their family?
- Or maybe they work/volunteer at one of the many non-profit organizations that are inundated with requests for food, clothing and other resources due to the thousands that have been laid off from their jobs?
- School cafeteria workers making sure there are meals for children who need them while the schools ae closed?
-Teachers who are working tirelessly from home to continue to provide our children with the support and tools they need to continue learning?
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