(From left) Aldermen Mark Kinion, Alan Long and Sarah Marsh; Sherry Middleton, director of the state’s Division of Community Service & Nonprofit Support; Lindsley Smith, the city’s communication director; Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Gov. Mike Beebe and Alderwoman Adella Gray.

Courtesy photo

As expected, Fayetteville was named a Volunteer Community of the Year for the fourth consecutive time.

Mayor Lioneld Jordan and several aldermen were on hand to accept the award Thursday during the Arkansas Municipal League’s winter conference in Little Rock.

The award is given by the office of Gov. Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Department of Human Services to communities in Arkansas that exemplify a strong volunteer spirit through community service.

According to city officials, over 30,000 Fayetteville volunteers who contributed more than 557,000 hours of volunteer community service in 2012.

“We are a giving community, and this award is in honor of the tens of thousands of Fayetteville volunteers who have done so much to help so many,” said Jordan. “I thank the people of Fayetteville for all the time they dedicated to the community through their volunteer service. You all make Fayetteville a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.”