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New River Community Action recognizes
Volunteer of the Year
The Board of Directors presented the 2016 Philip Sadler Memorial Community Service Volunteer of the Year
Award to Krittanai (Gap) Pisarnpong at the May 2016 Board meeting. Pisarnpong was recognized for his outstand-
ing volunteer service to the NRCA Head Start Program.
Pisarnpong began his connection with NRCA as a student in the Virginia Tech Honors College through its service
collaboration with the Giles County Head Start Centers. After his first few weeks in the classroom, Pisarnpong rec-
ognized the need for a children’s supplemental food project, so he worked with his fraternity to develop the Narrow’s
Head Start weekend backpack program. Despite a challenging class schedule, Pisarnpong volunteered over nine
hours per week organizing volunteers, filling backpacks, and delivering them to Narrows. He located a grocery
store to donate food, scheduled volunteers to fill the backpacks, and traveled from Virginia Tech to Narrows twice a
week to pick up empty backpacks and then return them filled with food. A graduating senior, Pisarnpong developed
the program so that his fraternity will continue the service in the future.
New River Community Action annually presents the Philip Sadler Memorial Community Service Volunteer of the
Year Award in memory of the late Philip M. Sadler, a Pulaski County attorney, community leader and humanitarian.
The award is presented to a NRCA volunteer in recognition of exceptional service to the community.
Krittanai (Gap) Pisarnpong (center), 2016 Philip Sadler
Memorial Community Service Volunteer of the Year,
with Giles County Head Start Teachers, Jessica Whittaker
(left) and Susan Porterfield.