The Robert Pryor Volunteer of the Year Award
Robert was an amazing person and a wonderful volunteer. He always left an impression on people and never more so than the night he jumped over our forklift. It was a remarkable and unexpected move not sanctioned by us (current volunteers DO NOT try this) or by OSHA. We were taking a break from painting the floor in a last mad flurry of work to get the store ready for our grand opening and without a word Robert jumped up from the table and vaulted himself over the forklift…like Superman.
Robert was our Superman, but not because of what he did that night as much as when and why and how. We were working late into the night, and Robert was right there with us to the very end to help make sure that the store was ready for the opening. He was there again early the next morning helping with last minute preparations.
Why was Robert there so much? It was his store. He embraced the mission of the ReStore in such a personal way and took so much pride in his areas of work that at times we could forget that he wasn’t a staff member. When he saw something that needed to be done, he did it. If it wasn’t his job, he made it his job.
And how did Robert do his job? With a smile. That’s what we’ll all miss the most about him. When you’re cleaning a used toilet, unloading a truck full of paving stones or any of the other sometimes difficult jobs that we do here at the ReStore, a smile like Robert’s can be a life-saver. We could count on Robert for a laugh, a kind word and a listening ear. When Robert passed we lost a friend, an excellent worker and a partner in the fight to make sure everyone in the Lima-area has a decent place to live.
To honor Robert’s memory we have created the Robert Pryor Award that is given to ReStore volunteers that display the characteristics that Robert exemplified.
A few of our Volunteers In Action
