MARYSVILLE – Several people affiliated with the Marysville Community Food Bank have been honored recently for their leadership and volunteerism.

Assistant Director Amy Howell was presented with the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award last month at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia in recognition for her service to the food bank. She developed and wrote grants to create the Food For Though weekend food backpack program for school children. Now in its sixth year, the program has grown from 18 kids at Liberty Elementary to more than 600 students at 23 schools in the Marysville and Lakewood school districts.

At the food bank’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner April 26 at Marysville United Methodist Church, Rick Hoover was named Volunteer of the Year. “He is the lead person in the warehouse area and a great asset to the food bank,” volunteer coordinator Joann Sewell said. “He goes above and beyond the call of duty.”

Also at the dinner, the Marysville Kiwanis Club presented Food Bank Director Dell Deierling, Tara Mizell and Andrew Munoz with the club’s Hometown Heroes Award for their dedication to the food bank and countless hours coordinating the annual holiday food and toy drive that serves youth and families in need.

Marysville Food and Toy Drive coordinator Tara Mizell and Food Bank Director Dell Deierling were presented with Hometown Hero awards from the Marysville Kiwanis Club at the food bank’s annual volunteer appreciation luncheon.

Rick Hoover was named Volunteer of the Year for his leadership overseeing the food bank’s warehouse area and other contributions to the food bank.