Two Eureka residents were recognized for their dedication to serving others during a presentation Friday, Oct. 16, at Lomar Drive-in, honoring their efforts to make a positive difference in the community.
Anna Maria Fouad was named September Community Member of the Month for her work helping animals in need, while Jack Poling received the October honor for his volunteer service at the Eureka Senior Center and Eureka Nursing Center.
Although their volunteer efforts focus on different needs, both were recognized for their compassion, generosity and willingness to give their time to help others.
Fouad has become an advocate for animals in the Eureka community, providing food, shelter, transportation and assistance in finding homes for animals in need.
According to her nomination, “She feeds them out of her own pocket and houses some and finds homes for the others and even provides transportation. She’s selfless and deserves to be recognized.”
Since moving to the community, Fouad has assisted the Animal Control Officer with various issues and taken steps to help a group of cats living behind Casey’s. She began providing food, establishing shelters for winter and bringing hot food and water each night to help the animals endure the cold.
Her efforts expanded to safely trapping the cats and finding appropriate homes for them. Fouad ultimately took in nearly 30 cats, and finding placements for the tame cats through rescue organizations in three states required months of work and coordination.
The effort has since grown into a broader vision for animal welfare in Eureka. Fouad is working with other community members to form Eureka Friends of Animals, an initiative intended to continue helping animals and strengthen local support for their care.
Poling was recognized for his ongoing volunteer work at the Eureka Senior Center and Eureka Nursing Center, where he regularly hosts bingo for residents. The activities provide opportunities for social interaction, friendly competition and time spent together.
In addition to hosting bingo, Poling volunteers and delivers meals, offering practical assistance to community members while continuing to give his time to local facilities.
His nomination highlighted his commitment to maintaining these activities and helping others through volunteer service.
When sharing that he was the recipient of the October honor, Poling expressed his appreciation, noting that it “means a lot to be able to do this.”
Together, Fouad and Poling represent two distinct forms of community service, from animal welfare and rescue efforts to volunteering and supporting local residents. Both demonstrate how individuals can strengthen a community by recognizing a need and taking action to address it.
Fouad and Poling will both be eligible for the 2026 Community Member of the Year honor, joining Tonya Casper, Tammi Burtin and Steve & Arlene Brown. Community voting is scheduled to take place in December and January.
With hopes of bringing positive vibes to the community, Lo-Mar Drive-In and The Eureka Herald started a monthly feature that showcases the works of those that give back to the nearby communities, beginning in 2021. It is hoped that the positive vibes will multiply and we will see many “pay it forward.”
Now, in its fifth year, the community by in is truly coming together. The committee consists of the Lo-mar Drive-In owners, newspaper publisher and the inaugural Community Member of the Year winner, Dolores Ball.
Those wishing to nominate a candidate for the “Community Member of the Month” honor are to simply submit a letter with their name, the person’s name they are nominating and why they are nominating them for the honor.
Letters should be sent to The Eureka Herald, PO Box 590, Eureka, KS 67045 or emailed to Robin Wunderlich at [email protected]. Forms are also available at The Eureka Herald, Lo-Mar Drive-in and the City of Eureka water office. The committee is asking that nominations be submitted prior to the last Friday of the month. Committee members will then review the nominations and select the recipient. Nominations can also be made by using the QR code found on page 14 or by visiting https://bit. ly/4hSJGPT Those being named “Community Member of the Month” will then be up for the annual honor, which will be voted on by the community.
To learn how you can participate, contact Wunderlich at 620-750-0714.
