Citizen of the Week: Kelly Zambrano

Published 7:30 pm Friday, January 4, 2019

As a general rule, members of Dalton State College’s social work degree program have to put in a minimum number of volunteer hours to advance in the program.

Many students go above and beyond the minimum. One of those students is Kelly Zambrano, a sophomore in the program who has given many valuable volunteer hours to the Dalton-Whitfield & Murray chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

“She has been one of our most consistent volunteers, coming in multiple times a week,” said Resource Development and Volunteer Coordinator Julie Stafford. “Being in college obviously isn’t easy to begin with, but to have people like her who offer their time is something that is really treasured by our organization. She is a great asset, and it is wonderful for our community to have her and for people to be involved in something that is truly invaluable.”

This past year was a big one for the local chapter, which has built 57 homes for low-income families in need of housing in the area since its establishment in Dalton in 1987. The organization has moved its headquarters and resale store from warehouse space on South Thornton Avenue to a newer facility on Glenwood Avenue in downtown. Stafford said Zambrano planned the grand opening that was held in November.

“She has expressed on many occasions her desire to work with a nonprofit in the future,” Stafford said. “She earned one of Habitat for Humanity’s highest volunteer honors when we gave her a golden hammer pin which is given to our most valuable volunteers.

“She has been a great help, and pretty much any task we have asked of her she has done and always with a smiling face,” Stafford said. “She is absolutely fantastic and deserving of recognition for what she does.”

Local Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Donna Lusk said volunteers like Zambrano are the backbone of the organization.

“Everything we do comes from volunteers and donations from individuals and local businesses and industry,” Lusk said. “Kelly is such a joy to work with. She has went over and beyond her volunteer requirements for the social work program, and it is nice to see people volunteering and keep coming back because of how fulfilling it is.”

For her efforts in helping to further the mission of Habitat for Humanity, the Daily Citizen-News names Kelly Zambrano Citizen of the Week.