STARKVILLE — A long-time Starkville resident and community service advocate is this year’s recipient of the 2018 Volunteer Mississippi Outstanding Humanitarian Award by the Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence Awards.
Susan Tomlinson received the honor April 16 at the Mississippi Museum of Art during the organization’s annual GIVE Awards Ceremony.
The Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards celebrate the exemplary work of Mississippi’s most dedicated citizens. This award program, presented by Volunteer Mississippi in partnership with the Governor’s Office, recognizes and honors the valuable contributions of Mississippi’s extraordinary citizens while inspiring others to follow their example.
Tomlinson has served over 22 years throughout Starkville and Oktibbeha County through numerous boards and committees, acting as past PTA President, fundraiser, and volunteer recruiter that benefits the Starkville School District, First United Methodist Church, as well as many other local organizations.
Most notably, Tomlinson was the founder of Starkville’s Backpack Meals program that began in 2012 with assistance from the Mississippi Food Network, providing children with nutritious meals and non-perishable food items that are packed directly into their backpacks to be eaten over the weekend.
The program now serves over 230 local children grades K-8 each week.
She is the wife of John A. Tomlinson, and the mother of three children, Elizabeth, Tillery, and John Robert, and a member of First United Methodist Church in Starkville.
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