Volunteer Warren founder Jill Sypole is Warren’s Citizen of the Year for 2017.
The Coomer Avenue resident, who founded Volunteer Warren a year ago as a way to give back to her adopted town, was recognized by the Warren Town Council for her efforts in cleaning the town, helping the infirm, veterans and elderly, and tireless work ethic. Council president Joseph DePasquale called her “a force of nature.”
Ms. Sypole, who just had a baby with husband Steve, Warren’s new housing court judge, was brought to the council meeting on a ruse. When she was called up for the presentation of a certificate in her honor, she blushed:
“I’m very surprised and honored,” she said. “It’s been a really great year. Volunteer Warren has really changed my relationship with the town I love. I’ve gotten this awesome opportunity to work alongside so many people that I never would have probably had anything more than a casual relationship with.”
In it’s year-plus of existence, volunteers who signed up with Volunteer Warren have performed more than 2,000 hours of community service, from painting classrooms in the Mary V. Quirk School to shoveling out those who can’t do it for themselves.
Ms. Sypole said Volunteer Warren is going strong, and she’s looking forward to helping the town this coming year:
“We’re doing some cool things and I’m really excited about the next year,” she said.