INDUSTRY — Dan and Amy Palmer of Industry are not the kind of people to seek the limelight, but their willingness to volunteer and help their community has not gone unnoticed.

The couple, who have been volunteering for the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area (UWTVA) Community Energy Challenge since 2009 and now oversee the program, have been recognized as Community Champions by Molina Medicaid Solutions of Maine. The Community Champions program celebrates the vision of Dr. C. David Molina, the founder of Molina Healthcare, as well as community partners who work together to care for society’s most vulnerable individuals. Each community champion is nominated by a community-based organization and receives a $1,000 grant to give to a deserving non-profit organization of his/her choice.

“I am so proud they won this award,” said UWTVA Executive Director Lisa Laflin.

“I was surprised, for one,” said Amy Palmer when asked what her reaction was to receiving the honor. “I just feel there’s so many volunteers that do so much. We’re just a drop in the bucket.”

The Community Energy Challenge is a low-cost strategic initiative that involves installing storm window panels to keep houses warm during Maine’s harsh winters and encourages homeowners to makes positive changes in energy consumption. Laflin said that since 2009, nearly 500 volunteers have worked 14,631 hours building and installing 1,926 storm window panels and helping 324 households.

Dan Palmer recalled how they got started with the Community Energy Challenge.

“We heard about the window panels. We were involved in Somerset County and heard about the project in Franklin County,” he said. “We started working with Nancy Teele.”

“We worked with East Parish Housing Ministries,” added Amy Palmer. “They were looking for something for work groups to do on rainy days.”

The Palmer’s work goes beyond the Community Energy Challenge. It includes volunteering for the Clearwater Food Pantry and the Starks Food Cupboard; serving on the advisory board for the Franklin County Extension Homemakers and the Mt. Blue Garden Club; rehabilitating homes as part of East Parish Housing Ministry; cooking for the Industry Community Kitchen; serving on Everyone’s Resource Depot board; and being an active member of Garden Angels, a program that makes handicapped accessible garden boxes.

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