Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg shook the hands of all of the attending honorees and posed for photos. Reynolds gave a speech before attendees began walking across the stage at Ankeny High School to greet the governor.

“I can tell you without a doubt the spirit of service is alive and well in our great state,” she told the packed auditorium.

To highlight her point, Reynolds said she visited five flood-ravaged communities in northwest Iowa. Some people had lost everything they owned, but even during the hardest of times, Iowans did what they do best.

“That is helping each other in times of need,” she said.

Robert Feil shakes Gov. Kim Reynolds hand during the 40th Governor’s Volunteer Award program in Ankeny on Tuesday. Feil volunteers at the Iowa Veterans Home.

The acts of kindness during catastrophe, such as the northwest Iowa flooding, the Greenfield tornado or the 2018 Marshalltown tornado, show that residents of the state show up to help those impacted.

“It’s these acts of kindness that inspire us and give us hope,” Reynolds said.

The governor said the people being recognized are the ones who give, who show up and invest in others without expecting anything in return.

For many of the area volunteers, the Iowa Veterans Home was the entity that nominated them for the recognition and brought the youngest honoree to the event, drawing an impressive amount of applause from the crowd. Garett Bruner of Conrad volunteers at IVH by spending time in the memory care unit during the summer and days when school is not in session.

Some of the other IVH volunteers announced and included were:

The Central Iowa Arts Association is honored at the 40th Governor’s Volunteer Award program on Tuesday by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Gov. Kim Reynolds. Members of the association provide free art classes to residents at the Iowa Veterans Home.

• Kim Riley, who volunteers by going on recreational trips for the veterans;

• American Legion Post 739, which does a variety of things such as hosting bingo events to boost morale and help with hand-eye coordination;

• Jasmine Degelau for escorting residents on trips and helping organize donations;

• LaDonna Runner of Laurel for 17 years during which she helped with the bingo and social events and decorated the bulletin boards;

• KFJB Radio Station. Kyle Martin accepted the recognition on behalf of the news organization. The station volunteers air time to host the annual Christmas Closet, which gains donations for veterans;

• Robert Miller for six years of service. Miller puts together furniture for the veterans, serves as the honor guard commander and helps with bingo sessions and the spring carnival;

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 46. The members assists the American Legion Auxiliary bingo and help decorate around the campus;

Debra Miller for nine years. She volunteers by escorting residents to monthly bingo sessions, helps with the spring carnival and serves on the volunteer advisory committee;

Marshalltown Elks Lodge 312. Members escort residents to the annual spring carnival, fish fry and pork roast and donate deer hides for veteran projects;

Central Iowa Arts Association. Members provide free art classes to veterans, which encourages creativity while enhancing motor skills, memory and focus;

Robert Feil. He escorts residents on multiple recreational outings.

OTHER HONORED INDIVIDUALS:

• Nan Benson of State Center, who serves as the Marshall County Auditor/Recorder, for six years. She was nominated for her service by the Marshalltown Area United Way and Iowa River Hospice.

•Barbara Blake for 15 years, Patrick Carmody , David Fuller, Jeff Harris for five years, Nichole Johnson for five years, Jack Mackin for 10 years and Helen Sagar for 45 years.