HALDIMAND — Daneel Hartery and Carlee Scott are this year’s recipients of the Holly’s Heart Award, given by Community Living Haldimand (CLH) to recognize those who are committed to bettering their community through simple acts of kindness, friendship, and caring.
The award has been given to 44 individuals since 1988 in honour of Holly Johnson, a woman who was supported by CLH and is remembered for her “zest for life, music, and dance”, as well as “making people smile with the most amazing hearty laugh,” according to a CLH press release.
“Holly was a vibrant woman,” said CLH CEO Bob Butella. “Her enthusiasm, sense of humour, and lively spirit affected all that knew her. Upon her passing, her family established the Holly Johnson Memorial Fund in her memory. The award is presented to (up to) two individuals supported by Haldimand who make a positive contribution to the lives of others or the community.”
Recipients are selected based on a variety of criteria. The ideal candidate works as a community volunteer, displays empathy, performs acts of caring, compassion, and selflessness, and makes their community a better place to live.
Hartery and Scott were presented with their awards at a special ceremony at the Jennie Deagle Complex on November 22, 2023.
“Congratulations to Carlee and Daneel for helping to make their communities a kinder, better place to live,” stated Heather Furtney, President of the CLH Board of Directors. “You are an inspiration to everyone.”
Hartery lives with his mom in Dunnville; he works part-time with True Experience and volunteers at Grandview Lodge and the Salvation Army Kettle Drive.
“He is a very busy man and is very active in his community,” said Rebecca Widerick, Hartery’s co-ordinator at CLH, who noted that when he’s not busy with his other endeavours, Hartery loves to take art, music, and computer classes.
While at Grandview, Hartery can be found manning the Tuck Shop, something he has done for many years.
“You can find Daneel on Friday mornings at the Minga volunteering his time to sweep the floor. He used to volunteer at the library in Dunnville and he is patiently waiting for them to begin accepting volunteers again so he can return,” added Widerick.
She praised Hartery for maintaining such a busy schedule and recognizing the importance of giving back to the community, a skill she says Hartery learned from his mom: “He enjoys people knowing and recognizing him in the community and this motivates him to get involved.”
Hartery shared that winning the award “means everything” to him.
Scott, a Cayuga resident, volunteers every week at the Salvation Army thrift store and recently helped to clean up the gardens at St. Stephens School during Faith Day. An artist, Scott loves to make cards, drawings, and notes when people need cheering up.
Scott shared some details about herself, calling herself a “very proud daughter, granddaughter, aunt, and sister. I live in Cayuga and have two housemates. We each enjoy horses and music.”
A lover of all things artistic, Scott touched on what inspires her: “My artwork is about my adventures and dreams and my hopes for the future. I love princesses and the stories about them. I like to recreate these in my room and sing and dance and dress up. I have so much fun being a princess!”
She described a blank canvas as an opportunity to create something unique and special for her friends, calling art a “good way to express my ideas.… Then I can share it with others. I like to write notes and leave them for people. I tuck them in their coat pocket or in the desk drawer; it is a special surprise. I mail cards to family and friends on special occasions and draw something to tell them what’s been happening. I like to cheer people up.”
On her volunteerism, she added, “My mom and I go every Wednesday to the Salvation Army in Caledonia to do volunteer work there and we sort items, clean, greet people, and I really love it. Seeing different people in the community I live in and go to for my doctor and dentist is so cool because everyone knows me.”
She felt honoured by her award win: “Receiving this award is very important because I know Holly Johnson was someone very special, I was told, and being recognized as this means I am too. Thank you!”
Butella characterized both Scott and Hartery as “extremely important” in helping the community “understand and appreciate the skills, attributes, and contributions everyone can make to their community.”
For more information about Community Living Haldimand, visit clhaldimand.com.
