Talk of the Town - Whitley County

(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Kelley Sheiss, above, was named Whitley County United Way's Volunteer of the Year Tuesday morning during the annual Day of Caring breakfast.

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

Before a crowd of several hundred of the community’s most dedicated volunteers, the Whitley County United Way sought to honor a shining star on Tuesday morning.

Kelley Sheiss was presented with the United Way’s Volunteer of the Year award during the annual United Way Day of Caring breakfast held at the Whitley County 4-H Center.

Sheiss, who operates a family farm in Etna-Troy Township, is an active volunteer with several local groups and organizations. She is the program director for the Leadership Whitley County program and is an engaged, committed two-year board member of the Whitley County United Way. Additionally, Sheiss serves on the Imagination Library committee and coordinated the United Way Day of Caring Food Drive.

The award was presented to Sheiss by the United Way board of directors.

“It’s very humbling,” Sheiss said of winning the award.

“I look at all the others who do such wonderful things in the community and I admire all they do,” she said. “It is certainly a blessing to be chosen from so many great people.”

Sheiss says she is thankful to her family for their commitment and for being so supportive of her endeavors.

“There’s always a tradeoff,” she said of volunteer hours taken away from family time. “It’s time away from them.”

“I really appreciate my family’s support,” Sheiss added.