Pictured in front are Lauri Vincent, Christine Monroe, Pennifer McCartney, Alta Harding and Gladys Alverio. The five were the recipients of the Everyday Hero Award. P-J photo by Carly Gould

The Resource Center recognized five employees with the Everyday Hero Award on Friday, in celebration of Direct Support Professional Appreciation Week.

Direct Support Professionals are people who work with those who cannot help themselves with certain tasks such as eating or bathing, and try to help people with special needs live as normal a life as possible. Everyday Heroes are nominated by co-workers for the exceptional ways they support people with disabilities.

“One of the first things I always ask employees is ‘What do you enjoy about what you do?'” said Denise Jones, executive director of The Resource Center, “and without hesitation or exception the answer is always the same. We do what we do because we love the people that we serve.”

The Everyday Heroes named this year were Pennifer McCartney, Lauri Vincent, Gladys Alverio, Alta Harding and Christine Monroe. Honorable mentions included Don Caruso, Alyssa Fardink, Jessica Hatfield, Lisa Hoch, Ashley Luka-Conley, Jason Lutgen, Jill Marsh, Cherish Matteson, Kayla Ormsby, Tanya Schmidt, Cheryl Stow, Nichole Washer and Margaret Wilson.

“It’s great that we could recognize the people who make this agency what it is,” said Steve Waterson, director of community relations, marketing and development. “We want to do more throughout the year to reward the Direct Support Professionals and all the hard work they do.”

Every winner of the award had a video explaining why they came to The Resource Center, what they love about their job and who they’d like to thank. Winners also received a check from the agency, a sweatshirt and a certificate recognizing their hard work. Honorable mentions also received a small gift bag.

“An everyday hero is the person who smiles at you on an off day,” said Terri Johnson, director of rehabilitation, employment and community services. “The everyday hero is within everyone and is expressed by simple, ordinary actions. Heroes do simple acts of courage, kindness and love, which is what our Everyday Heroes do every day.”

The Resource Center is an agency that provides services to persons with disabilities in the Chautauqua County area. The Resource Center is the largest non-governmental employer in Chautauqua County with more than 1,300 employees.