We love our volunteers!
Last week was Volunteer Appreciation Week! We would normally host a Family Picnic where we recognize our volunteers of the year. Due to social distancing regulations because of COVID-19, we’re doing virtual shout-outs this year instead of a large event. We’d like to publically recognize the individuals who have gone above and beyond for Carolina Tiger.
Check out our volunteers of the year below!
Volunteer of the Year: Lindsey Lewis
Lindsey joined the team in the fall of 2018 and has never once hesitated to complete a task assigned to her. She is always eager to help with any project and anyone around her can tell she really loves what she does. Not only is she a rock star volunteer, but she is an amazing advocate for wild cats when she’s off the clock as well. Her own values about conservation and wildlife perfectly align with ours and she helps to give a voice to our animals and their wild cousins. She is ambitious and passionate about making a difference in the lives of wild cats, and we are so glad that she has chosen to make a difference with us here at Carolina Tiger Rescue.
Jaxon Davis
Jaxon is a construction volunteer who never hesitates to help our site team with any project they’re working on. He’s always eager and willing to do what it takes to get the job done and has been an incredible addition to our program. He is genuinely one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and we couldn’t feel luckier to have him on our team.
Bridget Mackie
Bridget is a gift shop volunteer who takes so much pride in helping out. She might be quiet but she works fast! She is always knocking out every project our gift shop manager has for her and she helps us keep the gift shop looking in top shape. In her spare time around the sanctuary, she loves to visit with the animals and get to know them a little. She is an amazing volunteer and we are so happy that she chose to volunteer with us.
Christine Samant
Christine doubles-up as both an animal care and tour guide volunteer. That’s a huge commitment! She always gives it 100% and never shies away from a task. Whether it’s educating a new group of visitors or preparing food for the animals, she’s always ready!
Molly Gumpert
Molly has been volunteering with us for almost three years and we are so happy that she joined the team. Not only does she help out with animal care, but she also volunteers for our Black Tie and Tails Ball and helped with Adult Day Camp! The keepers know that if they give her a list to complete, it’ll be done by the end of her shift and it’ll be done right! Her energy and sense of humor are contagious and we are so grateful that she’s part of our volunteer family.
Erica Burnett
Erica never hesitates to take on whatever task is asked of her. She is constantly going above and beyond, and even came in to help out on Thanksgiving! She’s an absolute overall rockstar. She’s such a hard worker and is always super quick to learn new tasks.
Jessica Montesdeoca
Jessica gets our boomerang award because she came back to us! She took a few months to herself early last year and came back just as strong as the day she left. She is so fun to work around, incredibly reliable, and the keepers know that she’s always going to do a great job.
Laura Wolski
Laura (pictured on the far right) joined the team in 2016 and has contributed nearly 500 hours of her time since! She started her volunteer career as a Tour Assistant and quickly became a Tour Guide. Over time she grew more confident in herself and started to see what we saw in her all along. She is incredibly passionate about our mission and her love for the animals is evident in every tour she leads. She works hard every day to make sure our guests leave here with a better understanding of wild cats, and her success is demonstrated with the round of applause she receives at the conclusion of her tours.
Amber Farmer
Amber joined the Carolina Tiger family in 2015 and has volunteered more than 1,100 hours of her time since! She is always one of the first to step up and help out if we need a Tour Guide last-minute, even if it means she’s leading multiple tours that day. She never hesitates to sign up for community events and is one of our most dedicated representatives. Her love for the animals is unwavering and she’s always more than willing to do anything we ask her – and she does it with a smile on her face the whole time. For those of you who’ve come out for field trips, it’s likely you met her during your visit!
Rita and Gary Nunn
Rita and Gary always have our keepers’ backs. They are incredibly thoughtful in their contributions and make sure to not only bring things out for their adopted tiger, Roscoe, but they also ensure that our animal care team has what they need as well. And you’ll see Gary’s handiwork around the sanctuary if you’ve ever visited – he’s helped create our new welcome sign and the animals’ tour signs. We are so grateful that they’re part of the Carolina Tiger Family.
Kevin O’Dell
As a member of our Board of Directors, Kevin O’Dell has really helped us to design and craft a bright future for Carolina Tiger. His vision for the organization and the depth of knowledge he brings to the table have been invaluable assets. We could not be more grateful for his dedication and are so pleased that he is part of the team.
Shannon and Thomas Strom
The Stroms adopt our coatimundi, Macano, and are always coming up with creative foods and enrichment items to keep him physically and mentally stimulated. Macano is particularly picky about what food items he takes his meds in, and Team Strom is always picking up new and interesting snacks for him to try! Whether it’s superworms, helping out with his winter habitat, or boomer ball toys, we know Macano will always be set with them around.
Rich Crooke
Rich is a rock star volunteer! He has worked with our site team every Wednesday for the last several years and has helped with too many projects to count. He is consistent, he is reliable, and we know we can trust him with whatever task we throw at him.
Thank you to all of our volunteers, both past and present. We would not be the organization that we are today without your help!
