Volunteer of the Year praised by Inter-Church Council

The Inter-Church Council of Lyons presented the 2003 Volunteer of the Year award to Aquila 'Ackie' Zacharilla. She is a member of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Lyons.

The award recognizes a volunteer who exemplifies compassion, caring and commitment, serving Christ in the community, by volunteering time to one of the programs or missions that is supported by the Inter-church Council of Lyons.

She takes Communion to the sick, heads of the decorating committee of the church, is on Finance Council, Women's Group and supports St. Michael's Church in numerous other ministries.

She has served on the Inter-church Council since it's inception. She helps coordinate the Christmas Food baskets for the needy and contacts local businesses for their help. Zacharilla also helped by starting Operation Tidy Bottom, an ecumenical ministry that provides diapers to Lyons families in need. She has helped with Vacation Bible School.

Zacharilla works at Caring Friends in Clyde, an organization that resources and helps individuals and families. The past recipients of the Inter-Church Council of Lyons Volunteer of the Year are: Myrrh Parker Ruiz, Essie Barnes, Sharon Lubitow, Camille Clark, Tom and Judy Brancato, Alice Renckert and Ed Tellier.

Deborah Housel, the Pastoral Administrator of St. Michael's and the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lyons and President of the Inter-Church Council of Lyons, presented the award to Zacharilla.

Housel noted that this woman is 'an inspiration to all in her service to God and the community.' Huling Hummel thanked her on behalf of all the churches in Lyons for her commitment to promoting ecumenism in Lyons.

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