Carmen Ricker thought the spotlight would be shining Friday evening solely on the volunteers of Greeneville-Greene County Community Ministries, Inc.

Instead the light was turned briefly on Ricker in recognition of her 20 years of service to the local organization, which provides emergency financial assistance and food to those in need.

Ricker, who serves as executive director of Community Ministries, was surprised at the end of the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held at Asbury United Methodist Church with a plaque and flowers.

The items were presented to her by the Rev. Larrie Pike, ex-officio member of Community Ministries' board of directors and by the organization's office manager and bookkeeper Carole Thornburg.

"Whatever you are doing to help us to help these people, I want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts," Ricker told the volunteers.

"The load that we are carrying right now is really scary," Ricker said of the economic downturn.

"We've got many people in this community who are hungry. They've had their utilities disconnected. They are joining the homeless ranks because they've been evicted or a mortgage has been foreclosed."

Nearly everyone who now comes to the Community Ministries for assistance, she said, needs food. Many need other items as well, she added.

With the rising cost of food, Ricker said she is worried about how the Food Bank can continue to supply the rising needs.

Earlier in the evening, those at the volunteer appreciation banquet were welcomed by Neva Kilday, vice chairperson of the Community Ministries' board of directors.

Kilday told the story of a young, pregnant woman who came recently to the Community Ministries office, located on the corner of Irish and Culter streets.

She was happy that day, Kilday said, because her husband, who had been laid off, had just been called back to work and they, hopefully, would soon be able to afford a place to rent.

"They were trying to save enough money to move into housing," Kilday said.

"It takes about a $1,000 to move into housing because of the electricity deposit, the water deposit and the rent deposit. And that's a lot of money if you don't have any to begin with," she said.

On the day of her visit, Kilday said the young woman asked for food that would not have to be refrigerated. The reason was because she and her husband were living in a tent along the Asheville Highway near the river dam.

"She was about the same age as my daughter," Kilday said. "And I couldn't imagine my daughter being seven months pregnant and living in a tent in the cold and the rain."

"Because of you," Kilday told the volunteers, "we were able to help her that day -- and many like her.

"There are about 30 to 50 families who come in every single day to ask for assistance and each story is just as sad as that one," Kilday said.

Kilday went on to quote from what Carmen Ricker had written as a "letter to the editor" for the Greeneville Sun, thanking the public for their financial assistance to the organization.

"You have fed the hungry ... given warmth to those who have suffered from the cold ... prevented eviction from homes ... paid ultility bills ... sent underpriviledged youngsters to a week of camp at the YMCA ... and furnished medical assistance. We thank you on behalf of all of those that you have helped," Ricker's letter said.

Volunteers who received recognition at the event included: Herb Hawkes, William "Bill" Casey, Neva Kilday, Fred Sorrells, Diane Parham, Donnie "Bubba" McCoy, Norma Jean Bowers, JoAnn Dugger, Don Johnson, Jay Stockton, Larry Kelley, Leroy Hurst, Kurt Kuper, Betty McAmis, Ruby Shelton, Elder Beckstrom, Elder Nielson, Ann Russell, Mary Ann Johnson, Frances Johnson, James Cruey, Richard Forney, Ian Wright, Ricky Riddle, Michael Morgan and Kimberly Hoffman.

Special recognition was also given to volunteers: Geraldine Hoekstra, Gerben Hoekstra, Darrell Brackens, Bill Gammon, Lowell "Brownie" Stout, Anna Johnson, Crystal Dotson, Wilma Cutshall, Laura Taliaferro and Terry Crowder.

Milton Parham, who served as chairman of the annual bellringers fundraising drive, also spoke during the dinner about the success of this year's fundraiser.

The drive, he said, raised in excess of $45,000 to benefit Community Ministries, a record for the annual bellringing drive.

Storytellers Larry and Gayleen Kelley, of Chuckey, provided entertainment.