More than a dozen volunteers and community groups have been named to Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Lonny Napper’s annual Community Appreciation Awards.

They will be celebrated during a luncheon Napper will host Feb. 3 at the Camlachie Community Centre.

The list and the luncheon has been a tradition since Napper began the appreciation awards in 2011.

“I want to give back to the community and recognize some people that normally don’t get recognized,” he said.

Napper said he assembles the list from newspaper stories and community events he attends throughout the year.

“We seem to be a little remiss at saying thank you sometimes, and I just thought it was an opportunity to bring out the volunteers and people who do special things.”

Napper covers the cost of the reception and selects a community group each year to sell tickets in exchange for a donation to raise funds for their projects.

This year’s reception ticket sales will support a group arranging closing events for South Plympton school.

In the past, the luncheons have raised approximately $2,500 for a local project or group, Napper said.

“We usually get a pretty good turnout,” he said.

Tickets are available from the Plympton-Wyoming municipal office, and the school.

Napper said past recipients of the annual awards have appreciated the honour.

“Some of them are pretty humbled and say, ‘Why me?’”

Napper said his answer is, “Because you make a difference.”

This year’s recipients include Bruce Roane who has been a school bus driver for 56 years, and spent 26 years as a custodian at South Plympton School.

The Forest and Earle Trevail Silver Stick committees are being honoured for holding the annual hockey tournaments for 50 years.

Wyoming’s Donanne Avery is a Wyoming resident “with an infectious smile and a heart of gold” who through visits and encouraging words provides a “ray of sunshine” in the lives of others, according to the list.

Volunteers with Lambton Elderly Outreach are being honoured for their work, as are the Egg Farmers of Lambton County for their annual donation to the Inn of the Good Shepherd.

The children of Don Hendra organized a tournament raising more than $7,000 for hospice.

Tracey and Sean Cameron, and Jen and Mike Vandervelde organized a motorcycle run for a family member who required specialized surgery.

The Lady Luck Motorcycle Club celebrated its 65th anniversary this year and made the mayor’s list to honour its contributions to the community.

The Errol Village School Council is being honoured for a successful fundraiser to create a new playground named for Brent Poland, a former student who died while serving with the Canadian military in Afghanistan.

Teacher Alison Feniak was recognized for being named Energy Educator of the Year for her commitment to environmental education at Errol Village School.

The Judith and Norman Alix Foundation was named to the list for its support of Camlachie ball diamond improvements.

The Wyoming Lions Club is also on this year’s list, along with Tony Uzonyi, a Wyoming firefighter who began CPR and ensured 911 was called when an 84-year-old woman collapsed during a bingo event at the Camlachie Community Centre.

pmorden@postmedia.com