OCTOBER GOOD CARRMA WINNER

Crystal A.

Crystal recently started a new job as the Director of Development at Restore Oregon after working as the Grant and Community Resource Manager at SnowCap Community Charities. She also volunteered for years at Rahab’s Sisters, helping them hire their first employee. Crystal organized a fundraiser to send a student to Ebetsu, Japan for an entire month this summer.On top of all of this, Crystal is a mother to a teenager navigating a serious medical crisis. Simultaneously she is helping support her mother facing a completely different set of critical medical issues. As Crystal says, “Giving back helps me fill up my own cup of gratitude."

SEPTEMBER GOOD CARRMA WINNER

Sarah W.

People have described Sarah’s 80% as everyone else’s 100%. And that’s evident in everything she takes on…which is a lot. Sarah is a kindergarten teacher at Beaver Acres Elementary and always goes above and beyond for her students. She works tirelessly to be sure her students and families of her students have the resources they need to be successful, often reaching into her own pocket to cover the costs. She is also very involved (for 34 years!) in Camp Kiwanilong, a summer camp for kids to explore, grow and learn about the outdoors. As Sarah describes it, “I always want to make sure everyone has opportunities to do what they want to do and… and not have any barriers, right? Starting a garden club. Youth basketball. Running a summer camp.” This sounds exactly like the essence of a Good Carrma Winner. Bravo, Sarah!

AUGUST GOOD CARRMA WINNER

Caitlin S.

Caitlin is the founder and executive director of With Courage in Yamhill County. Caitlin is a survivor of breast cancer TWICE! She started With Courage to help those who live in Yamhill County who are battling breast cancer. With Courage is a non-profit organization that fundraises year-round. Caitlin is so passionate, caring, supportive and inspiring. Instead of letting her cancer diagnosis consume her, she is making a difference in the lives of everyone she and With Courage touches. Caitlin is an amazing woman who spreads love and compassion and that changes the lives of so many women and families.

JULY GOOD CARRMA WINNER
Selina G.

Selina has spent her entire life being selfless. She has raised four kids and supported them in every single venture that they have taken up. She has bought food to help feed my friends who came from less fortunate circumstances. She has provided housing for strangers and friends alike when they had nowhere to go. She has slyly provided financial support for whoever may need it and she has never expected any thanks or acknowledgement for it. She always tips well in the places that she goes so that she can make sure the workers are having a better shift when she leaves than when she got there. She treats everyone around her as if they are her own family. She has provided bids on animals at the county fair to support the agricultural programs in our community. She also has helped set up community parade floats for veterans and other local events. She is the most compassionate and giving person I have ever met. Not a single person I know has a bad word to say about her and she deserves all of the recognition in the world although she would not want it.

JUNE GOOD CARRMA WINNER
Michele F.

Michele is the most selfless human I've ever met - to a fault, actually. She takes care of her husband, who recently had a heart attack and suffers from dementia, her brother who is handicapped and lives in a care home - Michele visits him several times a week, running his errands, making sure he has his meds and all of his favorite treats. Michele takes on the post-surgical care of her aging friends and neighbors when they have medical procedures (more often than you think - it's nearly a full time job!), managing their meds, cooking and cleaning for them and she takes care of their animals, ensuring they get their daily walks and love. Michele is 78 years old!!! You would NEVER know it, she is a bolt of energy, who would do anything to help family, friends, neighbors and strangers. I just wish she would stop long enough to do something nice for herself every now and then. She deserves nothing but the best CARRMA!

MAY GOOD CARRMA WINNER
Kevin H.

Kevin is hands down the most selfless person I know” is a common refrain amongst people who know him.  Not only does he work full time, but he also volunteers his time coaching youth sports in the local community and has for the past 20 years. Many former athletes approach Kevin, telling him he was their favorite coach, or recounting an inspirational story he had shared with them.  Kevin has truly made a difference in the world through coaching and inspiring young student athletes.  Additionally, Kevin has also coordinated housing for his employees as well as finding reliable vehicles for them to purchase for either $1 or a very, very low cost. Recently, Kevin found a reliable vehicle for a former employee who was battling cancer. This woman needed a dependable vehicle to get her to and from her chemo appointments, and Kevin was able to secure one for her at no cost.  Kevin also footed the bill for a vehicle for one of his employees, who is a US Army Veteran.  Kevin told him “Not to worry about the cost of the vehicle,” and he could pay him when he could.  Kevin is always performing random acts of kindness like this, most are never acknowledged, nor would he ask for them to be acknowledged. Countless times, Kevin has covered the tab for a meal of someone sitting at the same restaurant as him.  Whether they were an elderly couple or someone wearing a Veteran's hat, he asks to pay for their tab and then scoots out of the restaurant, so they are unaware it was him.  Kevin is so deserving of this award and the fact that he would not want to be acknowledged is even more proof that he’s spreading truly Good Carrma.

APRIL GOOD CARRMA WINNER
Shelby T.

Shelby has been an animal lover since she was a child, Shelby has taken her love for animals one step further by starting a non-profit for kittens and cats called Shelby's Kitten Safe House. It began when someone advertised some kittens on Craig's List who were missing the tibias in their back legs. They could only drag their back legs. She bought them so she could help them. She raised over $50,000 and worked with a vet from OSU to build tibias for them, and with surgeries and physical therapy, the cats got new back legs and were able to walk on all fours. Shelby spends many hours caring for the most vulnerable kitties and raising money to make them healthy before getting them adopted to forever homes. Over the years, she has saved countless kitties and vets contact her when they have a cat they can't save because they don't have the funds. Her compassion, energy, and non-stop love for these cats is truly admirable.

MARCH GOOD CARRMA WINNER
Tonya K.

Tonya K., and her family have spent the last 16 years helping out their elderly neighbor, John, to make sure that he is cared for and has what he needs. Tonya helps him with groceries and things around his home. Her husband helps mow the lawn and take care of the landscaping. Their two children have cut and stacked wood for the winter months. It’s a family commitment and they love assisting someone in need, especially their friend John. They expect nothing in return…they just do it because it makes them feel good to help.