Seven seniors received the Foss Home and Village Special Senior Appreciation Award on Sept. 14 during a ceremony at the Bitterlake Community Center.

Greenwood residents Mary Walters and Billie Dawson were among the recipients who attended the afternoon event. The other seniors were Betty Power, Ralph Dockter, Bobee Marrapodi, Stan Score and Jack Link. Foss Home and Village is a non-profit nursing home in Greenwood.

Taking care of those who are less fortunate has earned Mary Walters the Foss Home and Village's Senior Appreciation Award.

Caring for others has been Walter's mission in life. As a child in Fargo, N.D., Walters was impressed with the doctors and nurses who cared for her when she had pneumonia and whooping cough.

"I was sick a lot as a child and decided it was something I wanted to do, taking care of people," said Walters.

This lead to Walter pursing a career in nursing. She was an operating room nurse in Ohio for 40 years.

She started working part-time while raising four children. Now she has five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Walters still found time to visit elderly church members and volunteered one day a week at free medical clinic.

Walters went back to school to earn a Bachelors of Arts degree at Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH.

"I loved doing liberal arts stuff. It was great going back to school as an adult. I was smarter at age 50 than at the age of 19. It was life experiences," said Walters.

Dawson went back to school to earn a Bachelors of Arts degree at Wittenberg University.

"I loved doing liberal arts stuff. It was great going back to school as an adult. I was smarter at age 50 than at the age of 19. It was life experiences," said Walters.

Walters is now a volunteer for the CRISTA Ministry's AIDS program, where she cooks meals, cleans house and cares for six AIDS patients.

"They are in terminal in stages. It's heavy duty taking care of AIDS patients. We try to give them hope and cheer them up," said Walters.

Walters and the other CRISTA volunteers provide companionship. "Some were disowned by family. We are their family," she said.

She is a 25-year member of the Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Seattle. Some of the inspiration for her life work came from her father who was a Lutheran pastor.

Walters has spent five years assisting 18 to 20 homebound church members in her role as Luther Memorial's visitation minister.

"I visit home bound people who can't get to church," said Walters.

She spends an hour with each client, talking to them when they have problems. "I bring them communion if they want. Being a nurse helps," said Walters.

Walter's work has also touched the hearts of people in Oaxaca, Mexico where she traveled with the Northwest Medical Team.

The medical team did surgeries on kids with cleft lips and palates. "It was sad to see people having a bad time," said Walters.

She will turn 75 years old next month and has not won any awards in the past. "When you do stuff, you don't do it to get rewards. Care giving is a way of life. You are your brother's keeper," said Walters.

Pastor Brian Beistel of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church nominated her for the award.

The power of positive thinking has motivated Billie Dawson throughout her life as she became involved in various causes.

Dawson defines positive thinking as "looking for solutions and answers and not looking at the negative side of things. You look for an environment of improvement," she said.

Billie and her husband Richard owned "The Camera Exchange," store in the Centralia/Chehalis area. They ran the business together for 18 years.

Dawson is 75 years old and has served on a long list of Board of Directors. These include: United Way, Love INC and the Domestic Violence Hotline.

As a Board member of the Lewis County Center for Performing Arts, Walters founded "Taste of the Arts and All That Jazz," an art show fundraiser she ran for ten years.

Walters served on the "twin cities" of Centralia/Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Council and the Merchant's Association. She was named "Woman of the Year," "Business Woman of the Year," and "Woman of distinction," for her work.

Love INC is a group which serves as a clearinghouse for churches, connecting them with people in need of food, rental payment assistance or the disabled.

"Most Boards and agencies help the city grow and are aching for help," said Dawson.

She has joined many organizations that improve a community. "I see a need and find a way to make things happen, solve it," said Dawson.

Working with homeless people is another one of her causes. "They need your love and support. They want to be a part of the community. I look at them as human beings and give them a leg up," said Dawson.

As an award recipient, Dawson says it's humbling. "A lot of people are out there doing a lot and are unrecognized. It feels gratifying. I don't do it for recognition. I do it because there is a need," she said.

Dawson is now a member of the Greenwood Christian Church and spends time with the Missions Team, establishing relationships with other missionaries around the world. She helps cook dinner for homeless men through City Team Ministries.

The Queen Anne Helpline is another place Dawson volunteers her time. She answers phones and works in its clothing bank.

In her purse, Dawson carries a small pink piece of paper with a saying by Charles Dickens. "Do all the good you can, make as little fuss about it as possible," it reads.

Dawson was nominated by Jeanne Durham of the Greenwood Christian Church.