Volunteer Mid-South announced the winners of its 38th Annual Spirit of Giving Awards on Thursday, April 10 in the ballroom at the Holiday Inn, University of Memphis. The recognition and appreciation luncheon honored those who make an enormous, positive difference in the lives of others. 


Winners were announced in the youth, adult, senior, small group, large group and board member categories. Special awards were also presented to the winners in the outstanding volunteer program category, recognizing their efforts on behalf of the nonprofit community. 


2014 Spirit of Giving Award Winners:
Outstanding Volunteer Program of the Year: The Junior League of Memphis

Lenore S. Creson Board Member of the Year: 
1st – Victor Rocha – Chickasaw Council, Boy Scouts 
2nd – Dave Forell – Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South
3rd – Lolly Easley – First Book Mid-South

Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year: 
1st- Eddie Echeverria – MidSouth Convoy of Hope
2nd- Connor Anderson – Episcopal Day Camp

Outstanding Adult Volunteer of the Year: 
1st - Dr. Vicki Murrell – Literacy Mid-South
2nd- Loretta Hooker – Memphis-MidSouth Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
3rd– Jacqueline Sammie Butts – Memphis Crisis Center

Outstanding Senior Volunteer of the Year:
1st- Cheryl Bone – MidSouth Convoy of Hope
2nd- Martha Bowers – Friends For Life Memphis
3rd- Peggy Jalenak – Jewish Historical Society of Memphis

Outstanding Small Group Volunteer of the Year:
George McGaha and Austin Simmons (Germantown Presbyterian Church) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis ReStore

Outstanding Large Group Volunteer of the Year: 
1st - “Beauty and the Feast” Culinary Series 2013 Collaborating Chefs – ArtsMemphis 
2nd- Brown Missionary Baptist Church Volunteer Group –Mid-South Food Bank / Memphis Union Mission

Congrats to all of the winners and Happy National Volunteer Week! Your work is indelible to our community.

Ever attended a Dishcrawl event? If not, you're missing out.

Dishcrawl events are scheduled for specific dates and times. A local ambassador leads a group through 3-5 different restaurants in the same neighborhood.  Attendees typically walk from place to place; hence the 'crawl'.

Crawlers get to taste 3 different dishes at each restaurant so bring your fanny pack and empty stomach to fill with delicious, local food. (Okay, maybe you shouldn't bring a fanny pack.)

I'll keep this short and sweet but afterwards, promise me you'll finally just do it and attend one of these awesome events. (view events in your hometown here: www.dishcrawl.com)

We drive past the hole-in-the-walls from our workplace to home nearly every single day. One of the best benefits to Dishcrawl is that you really don't know what restaurants you're signing up for. 

All ticket holders are notified of a meeting location via email, 48 hours prior to the event. Typically it's within walking distance and themed so you can get somewhat of a hunch but I've been wrong guessing on my food adventures multiple times. Wrong and so surprised of the delicious food at places; might I add, I have never considered eating at.

Odds are ever in your favor. You'll go on a foodie adventure that spans international cuisine and love every freakin' second of it.

We've all been there. A group text begins from friends asking where we should go eat this weekend. We throw out a few options and that's when the hour-long decision making process goes into full effect.

Grab a bunch of friends 'just because' and attend a Dishcrawl. No worries about where you're going to go, that's what Dishcrawl is for. Your tastebuds and growling stomachs will thank you immensely.

Dishcrawl spans 250 cities across the US, Canada, and the UK. So even if you're visiting across the pond, you can join the Dishcrawl action. Many Dishcrawl events are posted at least one month in advance too. 

And let's face it. Vacations = relaxing and eating a lot of yummy food.  Attending a Dishcrawl on vacation means your trying new food in a different region, meeting locals, and going to the best places that even some locals don't know exist.

So next time you begin to plan that trip, don't forget to save an evening to Dishcrawl.

Gather 'round a table with strangers and food and you're bound to meet new friends while having deep foodie conversations about the best Pad Thai in your city or favorite restaurant to sip back a cocktail (or two) after a long day at work .

Step outside your comfort zone. Like the weather, food is a great conversation starter so don't fret or be silent the entire time.

* Note: 2/3 of all Dishcrawl events I've attended solo so yes, I'm speaking from experience. I made new friends, received phone numbers, and still chat about the awesomeness that is food and culture with them via social media. *

Dishcrawl strives on promoting local businesses through their crawls. Don't let your date take you to the nearest Applebee's. You deserve better than that.

Dishcrawl dates are the bomb because you're allowed to still have one-on-one conversations without those awkward silent moments, it's thoughtful, and something your date will remember and maybe even tell your future kids about. (Okay, yeah we're talking about food and not making babies but there are a lot of similarities between the two.)

Setting up a Dishcrawl date means you're able to still remain creative with the details but without the nerving thousand pound weight on your shoulders of the 'one' place you should take the love of your life.

Contact your local Dishcrawl Ambassador and get it in place before they sell out!

Who are you to tell me to attend a Dishcrawl event?
I'm Andrew (@andrewjpg on Twitter). Addicted to delicious food, tweeting, #foodporn, and making new friends. 
Beyond that I'm a creative thinker / doer at a Memphis creative agency, a Dishcrawl Tastemaker, and a newly dubbed Yelp Elitist. 
I once Skyped with the CEO of Dishcrawl, Tracy Lee. Hopefully one day we can share a meal together and chat, yup, through a Dishcrawl.
Food is my passion. Food feeds my soul. Now get your booty to a Dishcrawl event. You'll thank me later.
Find a local Dishcrawl event near you: www.dishcrawl.com