NWA Hero -- Sheree Miller

Each year, the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross accepts nominations for ordinary people who have done something extraordinary. The organization then honors those nominees at their annual celebration of heroes in April. This month, KNWA`s Alexa Hamblin will highlight just some of the folks who the Red Cross considers real heroes in Northwest Arkansas. The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross says a hero does not have to save a life, only to have made a difference -- tonight we meet a woman who has made a difference through her countless hours of volunteer work for numerous area organizations. "She volunteers for us and ten other orgaizations and she`s done that as long as I`ve known her," explains Volunteer Coordinator Angela Garber. "And she works, and she`s a grandmother, and a mom, and wife. She`s very busy, very busy, many hours in a week." We`re not talking about Super Woman, we`re talking about Sheree Miller, a super volunteer who selflessly gives her time to Helping Hands and at least 10 other local charitable organizations. She`s the kind of volunteer that non-profit organizations can take to the bank: she`s dependable, and she wants to be here. Few people understand that better than Helping Hands Manager Bill Crawford, "She`s here generally every Saturday and then we see her throughout the week, sometimes it`s just to stop in and say, hey, how are things, is there anything I can do to help? And other times, like today, she`s here for the long haul, she`ll be here all day." Sheree says the reason she`s been here every Saturday for 11 years is fairly simple... "It`s one of those things that my grandmother taught me, one: to be idle is not a good thing, and, two: to give back to the community that you live in," Sheree explains. Helping Hands is one of Sheree`s very favorite organizations for that very reason... 80-percent of every dollar spent in this huge thrift store goes back to the community. Helping Hands provides numerous services like a food pantry, and assistance with everything from medical bills to rent. Whatever a client needs, Sheree is there to help. "Anything we need done, she`ll come do," Garber says. "She has a lot of connections, because she works for so many non-profits." For those who know her, Sheree is nothing less than a hero, and an inspiration for those around her. "I think that anybody that will give their time and effort and expect nothing in return is a hero," says Crawford. For Sheree, volunteerism is a part of her life that she wouldn`t trade for the world. "With a host of people that I call the A-team on Saturday, the family and staff and the people in back that work, it`s just like God blessed me with a second family," Sheree says. The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross is where heroes are trained. If you know a hero you`d like to nominate, or if you would like to become a hero through training, check out the Red Cross`s link above. In May, Helping Hands will celebrate 30 years of helping the indigent in Northwest Arkansas. For KNWA... Northwest Arkansas news... I`m Alexa Hamblin.