The 3 Best Community Volunteers Around Winchester

Volunteers form the backbone of community initiatives—giving time, skills and heart to causes that enhance local well‑being. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, communities with high volunteer engagement see stronger social cohesion and better outcomes in education and health. These Star Awards finalists exemplify the spirit of service in Winchester:

Denny Bucher || Winchester Elks Lodge 867

Denny Bucher coordinates the lodge’s charitable programs, from youth scholarship selection to veterans’ support. Under his leadership, the Elks’ “Dictionary Day” has distributed over 5,000 dictionaries to area third‑graders, fostering literacy and educational equity. Bucher also organizes monthly bingo fundraisers that channel proceeds into holiday meal deliveries and local nonprofit grants. His commitment to community service is reflected in a 20 percent increase in lodge volunteer participation over the past two years.

Alicia Aston || Dakota’s Dream Animal Rescue

Alicia Aston serves as a foster‑home coordinator, matching rescued animals with trained volunteer families. She organizes onboarding sessions—covering medical care protocols and behavioral enrichment techniques—to ensure each pet thrives in its temporary home. Under her guidance, the rescue’s foster network grew by 35 percent, reducing shelter overflow and improving adoption rates. Aston also spearheads “Paws for a Cause” 5K runs, engaging runners and pet lovers in fundraising for medical treatments and outreach programs.

Shelly Lee || 2 For 2 Foundation

As a board member for the 2 For 2 Foundation, Shelly Lee oversees youth mentorship and scholarship programs aimed at first‑generation college students. She manages volunteer tutor recruitment and training, establishing after‑school study sessions that have boosted participant GPA averages by 1.2 points. Lee also collaborates with local businesses to secure internship opportunities for program graduates. Her strategic leadership expanded the foundation’s annual scholarship fund by 50 percent last year, opening doors for more students to pursue higher education.

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