photography / Troy Boman Tooele Community Action Program volunteer Jean Rush was recognized by the the state for her service as a volunteer in late April. Rush, a 79-year-old Tooele County native, earned the 2008 Silver Bowl Award honoring her as the top volunteer in the state.

by Tim Gillie

STAFF WRITER

Jean Rush, a volunteer at the Salt Lake Community Action Program, Tooele office, has received the 2008 Silver Bowl Award from the Utah Commission on Volunteers, a state agency, for her work in helping to feed the hungry of Tooele County.

Rush was given the recognition at a luncheon sponsored by the Utah Commission on Volunteers and the Utah Volunteer Centers Association in Provo on April 28. One volunteer from each county in the state was nominated and recognized at the lunch. Rush received the Silver Bowl for being the volunteer of the year in Utah.

"I was surprised," said Rush. "After listening to all the wonderful and touching stories about everyone, I don't know why they picked me."

Rush, who will be turning 80 later this year, has volunteered at the Salt Lake Community Action Program, Tooele office for two years. She takes food orders from people for the food bank and helps those in need learn about other services available through the action program.

"My husband passed away 43 years ago," said Rush. "My cousin volunteers here and she invited me to come down and try it out. It has been wonderful."

Rush's supervisor said the award was a just recognition of the work Rush has put in.

"Jean is a ray of sunshine at the Tooele Community Action Program," said Lori Sandoval, director of the Salt Lake Community Action Program, Tooele office. "She is happy, cheerful and easy to work with."

The silver bowl award has been given out to the top volunteer in the state for about 30 years now, according to Kristin Beck, director of the volunteer center of Greater Salt Lake Area.

"It began when O.C. Tanner company donated an engraved silver bowl to present to the volunteer of the year," Beck said.

tgillie@tooeletranscript.com