San Diego County honors volunteers, cites 16,060 participants and $30 million in service

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors held its annual volunteer recognition ceremony on April 2025, presenting a proclamation recognizing the month and honoring volunteers from departments across the county.

The proclamation, accepted by countywide volunteer coordinators Samantha Lanham and Madison Padilla, noted the honorees represent 16,060 volunteers and said those volunteers added a value of $30,000,000 to San Diego County over the past year.

The ceremony featured brief remarks and recorded testimonials from volunteers who described why they serve. Betty Unibe, a volunteer for the San Diego County Library, said, “The money that we make here in the store goes to our local branch,” and described the satisfaction of helping patrons find books. An Otay Lakes County Park volunteer said she volunteers “to give back” and described clearing trails and planting trees. Molly Kuehling and Bill Kuehling, animal services volunteers, said volunteering helped them stay active after retirement; Bill Kuehling said after years as a mail carrier, “what better job — instead of running from dogs, now I walk them.” Amanda Bates, a volunteer with the foster youth mentor program, described tutoring, helping with college applications and attending sporting events for youths in foster care.

Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer of the Board of Supervisors opened the formal portion of the ceremony and thanked organizers and volunteers. Samantha Lanham, the countywide volunteer coordinator, and Madison Padilla of the Clerk of the Board’s Office accepted the proclamation on behalf of volunteer coordinators and the honorees.

The event included presentations recognizing individual volunteers and their contributions. Highlights announced by presenters included:

- Jen Strahwer (Department of Animal Services): more than 200 hours of service mentoring new volunteers and supporting adoption events. - Marlene (Assessor-Recorder/County Clerk, Santee office): more than 179 hours assisting with civil ceremonies and office support. - Mei Lin (Friends of the 4S Ranch Library): more than 400 hours of volunteer service and leadership in book sales and programs. - Pauline Lee (Retired Senior Volunteer Program): more than 2,400 hours of service over five and a half years, supporting onboarding at Scripps hospitals. - Barbara Weiner (Sheriff’s Office mounted unit): 3,209 hours since 2014 coordinating patrols and training teams and animals. - Deputy Patrick Jabbour (Sheriff’s Office): 3,388 hours in under two years supporting DUI saturations, traffic enforcement and special details.

Other volunteers recognized included contributors to child support services, the District Attorney’s Office, Health and Human Services, Public Health Services, Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Development Services, Probation, the Public Defender’s Office, Fire, Search and Rescue and many more. Several presenters noted volunteer activities such as mentoring youth, assisting with vaccinations and opioid disposal pilot programs, translating outreach materials, conducting unannounced long-term care facility visits, and supporting emergency preparedness and post-disaster search and recovery.

Organizers closed the program by inviting the public to www.sandiegocounty.gov/volunteer for opportunities and thanking the county communications office and volunteer coordinators for organizing the event. The Board recessed briefly before beginning its regular meeting at 10 a.m.

The ceremony was purely honorary; no formal board votes, motions or policy decisions were recorded during the program portion of the transcript.