Camden Ames & Christy Lynn Van Ness are this year’s Good Neighbors of the Year

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) is pleased to announce that Camden Ames and Christy Lynn Van Ness are Wake Forest’s 2022 Youth and Adult Good Neighbors of the Year. Mayor Vivian Jones made the announcements during Saturday’s Good Neighbor Day celebration at E. Carroll Joyner Park and presented each with a commemorative plaque.

In his nomination narrative, Wesley Spottiswood praised Ames unfailing willingness to “help and serve.”

“(Camden) plays for Hope Lutheran Church volunteering in the Youth Praise team, even playing after getting five teeth pulled out,” wrote Spottiswood. “He helps serve during the Hope Harvest Fest and helped plant trees and wildflowers on Arbor Day in the community.”

Patricia Robles nominated Van Ness and noted that she “has been cooking delicious meals the last couple of years for our community. Each week, she cooks two full meals and gives them to a family in need of a break. When she first began, meals were directed to our first responders, then, with the community helping with funds for the meals, she began offering the meals to more people in need.”

Robles also emphasized Van Ness’ “servant’s heart.”

“Christy has helped, not only many first responders, but single moms, people recovering from Covid, surgeries, and cancer. Christy had done this with her heart and through untold kindness. I nominate her because of her selflessness and caring of her community that has been priceless to many.”

The HRC solicits youth and adult nominations for the Good Neighbor of the Year award each year from April through August and announces the winners during Good Neighbor Day. For more information, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Good Neighbor Day” or contact Senior Human Resources Consultant Mitzi Franklin at 919-435-9493 or [email protected].