Along with other Chamber award recipients
The McIntosh County Democrat announced their Citizen of the Year at the Checotah Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet on Feb. 15 at the Senior Community Center, along with other Chamber award recipients.
Roxy Moore was pleasantly surprised when she was awarded the Citizen of the Year award by MCD General Manager Shauna Belyeu.
“When we look at nominations each year for the McIntosh County Democrat Citizen of the Year, we look for someone whose life’s mission is helping those in need and who selflessly impacts souls in our community without looking for recognition,” Belyeu said. “This years Citizen of the Year definitely meets all the criteria. This lifelong member of Checotah and has never met anyone that she wasn’t willing to help, young or old, rich or poor. That’s why we chose Roxy Moore as our McIntosh County Democrat Citizen of the Year.
Moore not only has worked with the Boy Scouts to revitalize Pack 642 in Checotah, she has also fostered more than 400 children with special needs and adopted five of these children.
For years, Moore has vol- unteered at the Methodist Mission, working tirelessly to help anyone in need. Whether it is young ladies who need a reasonable prom dress or families who need presents for their children for birthdays or Christmas, she makes sure everyone is taken care of. – including the other volunteers she works with each week.
This past year Moore organized a Silent Auction before Christmas to benefit the Mission’s Food Pantry. She handled all the advertising, obtained donations from area businesses and even provided a table full of goodies for all the shoppers. This fundraiser alone brought in over $2,000 to the mission.
Moore also enjoys helping the special clients with Options, Inc. Each year she provides all the materials needed to make handmade ornaments. She also helps with the food.
During the recent cold stretch of dangerous weather, Moore collected blankets and coats to take to the city’s warming center. She also made sandwiches for anyone who needed to use the facility and put sandwiches, coats, and blankets in the Mission’s free bin for anyone, including the homeless, that she knew would come after dark.
“I’m still spinning over this award,” Moore said. “I had no clue. In fact, the last banquet I went to was the Boy Scouts and my boys were little. Now, they’re grown and getting to see me accept this award. It’s truly humbling. When I first started helping, I didn’t think I could physically do it. However, I prayed about it and felt that God would help me if I helped others and He has. My children also help at the mission because I want to teach them to have a servant’s heart too. I just firmly believe that we all can do something in our community to help others.”
The Chamber of Commerce also handed out their awards: Booster of the Year – Red Dirt Production Business (Member) of the Year – Market 26 Silent Hero – Freedom House Former office manager Jerri Holder also received a plaque of appreciation for 13 year of service to the Checotah Chamber of Commerce. Holder recently took another job position in Checotah and will be greatly missed at the Chamber.
This year’s sponsor for the banquet was Red Dirt Production Services and Watson Farms catered the event. The Checotah FFA helped serve the meal to guests and a silent auction was also conducted.
The 2024 Chamber Board of Directors includes President David Prince, Vice President Chris Brown, Treasure Mike Stidham and Secretary Laurie Burkhalter. Members are Lacey Jackson, Jayme Fields, Jason McPeak, Meloney Brown, Colton Crosby, Whitney Weimer, Julie Tittjung, Darren Armstrong and John Garrett.
