When Rhea Lyon was told someone thought she and her husband Vic deserved recognition for their volunteer work, she wanted to make it clear they were only a part of a team.

"There are many others who work in helping people in need," Rhea said. "We have a lot of people involved in volunteer work."

Rhea, 59, and Vic, 67, live in Hawley. Rhea works at the Stamford Memorial Hospital. Vic is retired. Once each month, the two take food to Stamford to be distributed to about 150 families.

"Vic takes his flatbed trailer and picks up the food at the Abilene food bank and we take it to Stamford on the third Tuesday morning of each month," Rhea said. "There are a lot of volunteers waiting there for us who help with the distribution of the food."

"It has been a God thing to us," Rhea said. "This work has pulled a lot of people together."

After Vic and Rhea moved to Hawley from Washington state seven years ago to raise cutting horses, they have become involved in the community.

She said it's rewarding to work with people who do not have jobs or who are not able to work.

"People line up waiting for the food distribution," Rhea said. She said it makes her feel good to help others.

Asked why he volunteered to help, Vic said: "We have learned there are an amount of people out there who need help. When you are looking from the outside in, you don't realize their need until you get involved in it."

Carolyn Smith, who lives in Stamford and is a volunteer in distributing food, said that Vic and Rhea have really helped the Stamford food bank get off to a good start.

"They care deeply for the people who need food," Smith said.

Rhea also volunteers to work in the Meals on Wheels in Stamford, explaining the hospital allows her to take off a little time to make the routes.

"I like this quote from Mother Teresa, my earthly hero," Rhea said as her reason for helping others:
"I do not have any special qualities. I do not claim anything for the work. It is His work and I am like a little pencil in His hand that is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used."

"I'm willing to bet that most any person involved in volunteer work of any type will agree with Mother Teresa," Rhea said. "It's not about us."