OxfordPress.com

HAMILTON — Margaret Martin can't get the images of the sleeping bags, shopping carts and lanterns out of her mind.

"This is somebody's home," Martin remembers saying to herself as she stood under a Middletown bridge. "What can I do to make sure they're warm. What can I do?"

Since then, she has taken garbage bags full of blankets, toys and anything she can find and others are willing to give to homeless shelters in Butler County.

Martin's compassion for the homeless and other charities is why she is among four area residents nominated for the Janet Clemmons Award/SELF Community Service Award.

The award honors a Butler County resident who go above and beyond to assist the needy and poor families.

The nominees will be recognized and a winner will be announced at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Receptions Banquet Center in Fairfield.

Other nominees include Robin Crouch of Fairfield, Joel Fink of Hamilton and Suzanne Prescott of West Chester Twp.

Prescott has worked with organizations such as Butler County Success and the FEED Alliance, where she provides food to children and families.

She also is a certified "Bridges Out of Poverty" trainer who is dedicated to helping human service professionals to better understand "living in poverty" and creating a greater awareness of this countywide problem.

"It's important to understand what it means to be in poverty. I want people to understand that people in poverty work hard everyday,'' Prescott said.

SELF board President Suzi Rubin said Prescott and the other nominees exemplify the meaning of the Janet Clemmons award.

"All of the nominees are excellent examples of how one person can have a tremendous impact upon the lives of others," Rubin said. "The Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service Award honors those who demonstrate compassion and commitment to improving the lives of the county's low-income residents. The SELF Board of Directors is proud to recognize each of these four deserving nominees for their willingness to dedicate their gifts and talents to serving others."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.