Cynthia Russell

For Cynthia Russell, this year’s recipient of the 2007 Frank W. Mayborn Humanitarian Award, the motivation for helping as many as 550 families per month through Churches Touching Lives for Christ, is simple. “They are my family,” she said during the award presentation Wednesday.

Ms. Russell, who has been volunteer director of ministries for the organization since its formation in 1993, was selected for the award from among 17 candidates. She was lauded at the luncheon, held at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center, for her tireless volunteerism and selfless devotion to those in need in the Central Texas area.

The organization, now 30 churches strong, strives through volunteer work to assist people in need, providing food, clothing, emergency assistance with rent and utilities, prayer, counseling, referral and other assistance.

Sue Mayborn, editor and publisher of the Temple Daily Telegram, said during the luncheon that Ms. Russell’s work with the organization has helped those in Central Texas with the greatest need.

“She blessed us with not only her talent but also her ability to use those talents,” she said, comparing her dependability and persistence in helping others with a grain of sand that turns an oyster into a pearl.

She said the example Ms. Russell has set with her work is an example that also inspires many others.

“At this luncheon we select one recipient, but it is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to those of you who give so much for our community,” she said. “All of us are given talents in life and we are all given the choice of whether or not we use them. A lot of talent in this group is being put to very good use every day, and you are touching lives one good deed at a time.”

Mrs. Mayborn said that about 500 to 600 families in Central Texas are served per month by CTLC, and that the figure represents a high percentage when compared to the population of Temple.

“And it’s our responsibility to take care of them,” she said.

Mrs. Mayborn created the award named for her late husband in 1991. It is sponsored by the Temple Daily Telegram and the Killeen Daily Herald and is given only in years when there is a nominee who meets all the criteria.

Richard Herschler, business manager at the Telegram, said that Ms. Russell saw a gap in the system for those in need and succeeded in filling it.

“Helping those that have need is what this year’s recipient saw as a void in our community,” he said of Ms. Russell’s devotion to people who “fell through the cracks.”

Ms. Russell, who has worked all these years without pay, said she and others who volunteer are paid in ways other than money.

“We are all volunteers there, except (when it comes to) seeing the relief in the eyes of some of the people who come in and receive our food or our help,” she said. “That is our payment, which is plenty of payment enough for all of us.”

She said that in times when the volunteer crew is thin but others still need help, her faith helps support her.

“At times we are short of volunteers and we think, ‘how are we going to make it through the day,’” she said. “And I have learned not to worry about it anymore.”

She explained that during those times, the people often do come in off the street, but they come in to volunteer.

“They just come in the door and say ‘I just had this feeling that I needed to be here today,’” she said.

Ms. Russell said after the ceremony that she has seen many people come and go seeking help and has many memories of them. Among the memories is a share of success stories as well as those that did not turn out well.

“There are a lot of memories I have - some are so sad they almost make you want to cry,” she said. “There are good memories too,” she added quickly, describing a woman currently working at CTLC who she had helped for about five years.

“She wants to pay back some of the help she got - not pay back monetarily, but pay back in helping,” she said. “Every time she comes in she gives me a great big hug and every time she starts to leave she gives me a big hug.”

Then, referring to the woman as being representative of all those helped by CTLC, she said, “They are my family. They are good people.”

- - from award program Wednesday, November 7, 2007