In celebration of this special time of year I wanted my column this month to profile a Capitol Hill person who not only stood out in the community, but who also quietly and generously gave of him or herself throughout the year. While at an art exhibit at the Corner Store, I asked my friend Patrick McClintock if he knew a good candidate.

My timing was impeccable. He told me about an annual event to honor outstanding volunteers in the community, the Annual Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving held by the Capitol Hill Group Ministry each year.

Twenty-five men and women were nominated by 14 congregations to be honored at the celebration which took place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving at Unity Church. (See list below.)

“The service was festive, fun and powerful,” said Emily Guthrie, executive director of Capitol Hill Group Ministry. “We honor all volunteers who are dong so many amazing projects. It’s the most gratifying and inspiring service for me.” She said at this particular time we need “as much peaceful, respectful dialogue among diverse people to witness to that possibility of unity and working together for justice.”

I interviewed six of the volunteers recognized at this year’s service, but each and every person on the list has an incredible story to tell. They are the Hill’s silent servants. The following are vignettes of those people interviewed.

Betsy and Collie Agle
Betsy and Collie Agle whom I have known for years, were among those honored for their 20 years of leadership in forging a partnership between St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and communities on the north shore of Honduras. “I was looking for a way to get kids to recognize there was more to life than Washington or Capitol Hill. I wanted them to know the world was bigger than that,” explained Collie who said his stint in Peru, volunteering for the Peace Corps in the 1960s, was a life altering experience. Collie and Betsy thought St. Mark’s should be doing something outside the community. “We thought it could inspire those who leave their familiar surroundings to appreciate what they have and perhaps do more at home when they return.”

Betsy and Collie found Honduran schools to be extraordinarily poor and not receiving needed supplies from their government. They took their first trip to Honduras with 15 teens including their two sons in tow and helped build 30 desks for 3 public schools. “We were in despair the last day,” explained Betsy, “We discovered they had no benches and not enough time to build them. We left supplies with teachers who promised to have the community construct the benches. When we returned two years later, we found all the benches made.”

Betsy and Collie have been taking these trips with teens every two years for the last 20 years. Not only did they create a relationship with the schools on the north shore of the country, but they also forged a relationship in recent years in the middle of the country with Episcopal leader Roy Iora. “His mission is reforestation. Because the forest in Honduras is disappearing, the water table has diminished and floods have occurred. We’ve helped him and his communities plant 20,000 trees over the years,” said Betsy. Iora has visited Washington and returned to Honduras with seeds to plant donated from a local nonprofit agency.

Both Betsy and Collie said that gratification from this work comes in many forms. Seeing the fruits of their labor help those less fortunate in Honduras is great, but they said that many of the teens who returned from the trips have continued with their Spanish and have inspired others to study the language hoping to take a future trip with the Agles. “It’s a good feeling to work together at a time when everyone feels so pulled apart,” said Betsy.

The Capitol Hill teens raise money for their own trips, and Betsy and Collie finance their travel themselves. St. Mark’s also raises money for scholarships. Another trip is scheduled for 2008. Contact the Agles at 202-546-0269 for information about the trip.

Chester Hart
Chester Hart lives right next to the Lutheran Church of the Reformation. He started working there in 1999.  He’s fun, upbeat, full of energy and excited about talking about what he does.

The Church of the Reformation has recognized Chester for his dedication and service as associate director and program coordinator at the Southeast Ministry. He teaches, among other courses, American history, job skills and career placement for ex-offenders. As an ex-offender himself, he “wants to show them that anything is possible.” He is grateful for all the help he had been given through his transition and wants to give to others the help and support he has received.

When he was released from jail on Aug. 17, 1999 (“I don’t forget that date no, Lord!”) Chester began volunteering at the church. The volunteer work turned into a paying job. He said when he started five other people were also employed. Now it’s just him.

Chester also serves on East of the River Community Courts group in Superior Court and is acting chairman for the Corrections Information Council, a DC group that works with men and women housed in 153 facilities. If that’s not enough to take up his day and nights, Chester also is a sexton for the church and assists with the church’s Food Pantry and Community Watch. When I asked him what he did in his spare time he laughed and said, “”Do I have any room for it? No such creature. I work seven days a week!”

Ozra Feggans
Ozra Feggans said she has done everything in her 50 years at Calvary Episcopal Church except preach.  She served on the vestry, on committees and sings in the choir. She may be best known for her dynamic fund raising skills. She raised $250,000 for the purchase of a new organ and a new heating and air conditioning system at Calvary. “We didn’t get good music out of our old organ,” she explained. “The Vestry decided to buy one, but didn’t realize how expensive it was. So I got parishioners to donate money who weren’t used to donating more than $100. I think I even gave $5,000.”

Her background as a banker and a degree in elementary education did not give her the professional skills needed to raise that kind of cash. I was curious. “I used to sell cosmetics during and after college for extra cash. It gave me an incentive to ask for money. We were taught that if you see 60 people and get results from 30 you are doing an excellent job.”

She said she’s always been good with figures. “Anything I belong to within five minutes they make me the financial secretary.” Her tremendous fundraising talents make her in demand for just about every cause. “They call me for everything,” she laughs. “I have to hide sometimes.” Ozra raises money for college scholarships given to deserving students in the community through the Business and Professional Women’s Organization, where she’s been a member for 35 years.

At 84, Ozra keeps so busy she said she hardly has time for fun. “I sing in the choir, work with the civic association. I just keep busy. There’s always something to do.”

Trista and Sean Soendker Nicholson
Trista and Sean Soendker Nicholson said they laughed when they heard they were being honored for their volunteer work because “it just seems like something we’re supposed to do.” They both work in political jobs and believe in what they are doing professionally. “We think we should help those in our own backyard while we wait for policies to change. We’re working with the most vulnerable people in society.”

Trista and Sean moved to the Hill from Missouri five years ago. They went church shopping and found themselves at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church who has recognized them for their work with the Congregation Based Shelter Program that gives two homeless families a safe haven. Families stay one month a year at each participating church. Capitol Hill United Methodist hosts families in August. Sean and Trista joined United Methodist at the time it was hosting families. They volunteered. The rest is history.

Now Sean and Trista coordinate all service projects at United Methodist including the volunteers who stay with the families, prepare meals, do laundry, offer tutoring and do anything that the families need. “It’s gratifying,” said Trista. “Both moms who were with us this past year are now in their own housing.”

Sean and Trista also work with the Capitol Hill Café, a church outreach program that provides a hot meal two Sundays a month. People come mostly from Capitol Hill shelters or from the streets in our neighborhood. “Sadly, most have been coming since we’ve been around. The homeless community is established and tightknit,” explained Trista.