22ndAnnual Volunteer of the Year Award - 2026
Our Winner Is
Anita Johnston of My Place Teen Center
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Pictured Left: Anita Johnston - Volunteer at My Place Teen Center - 2026 Volunteer of the Year recipient, being presented with the plaque by Altrusan Anita Chandler.
Top Right: Members of Altrusa and Volunteers from My Place Teen Center are welcomed to the Celebration.
Bottom Right: Presenting our $500 Check to My Place Teen Center from Left to Right: Martha Gross, Foundation President Altrusa Portland; Donna Dwyer, CEO & Executive Director MPTC; and Anita Johnston; and Karen Valley, President Altrusa Portland.
Learn more about My Place Teen Center in Westbrook https://myplaceteencenter.org/ or My Place Teen Center in Biddeford https://heartofbiddeford.org/place/my-place-teen-center/
Top Right: Members of Altrusa and Volunteers from My Place Teen Center are welcomed to the Celebration.
Bottom Right: Presenting our $500 Check to My Place Teen Center from Left to Right: Martha Gross, Foundation President Altrusa Portland; Donna Dwyer, CEO & Executive Director MPTC; and Anita Johnston; and Karen Valley, President Altrusa Portland.
Learn more about My Place Teen Center in Westbrook https://myplaceteencenter.org/ or My Place Teen Center in Biddeford https://heartofbiddeford.org/place/my-place-teen-center/
Here's what you should know about the 2026 Volunteer of the year!
On April 15th , Altrusa Club of Portland was pleased to award the 22nd Annual Volunteer of the Year award to Anita Johnston in recognition of over 20 years of dedicated volunteer service to My Place Teen Center.
Altrusa welcomed Anita along with MPTC CEO & Executive Director Donna Dwyer and Anita's husband. Anita was nominated by Donna. Among a large field of wonderful nominations from other non-profits in the area, Donna rose to the top.
To quote from Donna's nomination: "Anita is one of our TREASURED volunteers." She "assists with our Restaurant Job Training Program (RJTP). The RJTP embeds life skills, workforce development, accountability, STEM principles, and financial literacy practices...
Anita's role is to assist with food prep in the morning, support the job curriculum in the afternoon, mentor the kids, and clean up after dinner. She spends 10-15 hours a week volunteering at MPTC. She works with the staff, the kids, and other volunteers. She is reliable, compassionate and has a strong work ethic... Anita is willing to step in wherever and whenever we need her.
Anita's most profound impact was during the first year of the pandemic. We expanded our mission during this period to include feeding the community. She was with us 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. Along with six staff members, she prepared and delivered over 1250 homemade restaurant-quality dinners and 200+ snack/hygiene/household staples kits per week for fifteen months. We became a daily mobile food pantry serving 250 people.
Anita has been volunteering with us for seven years, but she has always volunteered in her local community. Most notably building sets for high school musicals. Additionally, as a former nurse, Anita volunteered with regional social service organizations for the past 40 years.
Anita is a tireless kids' advocate. She is relentlessly championing efforts to ensure that kid's voices are heard and that those with the least have the most advantages she can provide through her loving efforts and our networks. She is exemplary in hour she carries herself: savvy, intelligent, brave, articulate and a gentle bulldog when she needs to be. Whatever it takes to ensure that kids are safe and have a better chance at life... Anita is a vibrant force and always encourages others to support a cause.
She is our special friend and angel. We are blessed to have Anita's influence on the kids."
The Altrusa Portland club donated $500 to My Place Teen Center in honor of Anita's exceptional dedication.
On April 15th , Altrusa Club of Portland was pleased to award the 22nd Annual Volunteer of the Year award to Anita Johnston in recognition of over 20 years of dedicated volunteer service to My Place Teen Center.
Altrusa welcomed Anita along with MPTC CEO & Executive Director Donna Dwyer and Anita's husband. Anita was nominated by Donna. Among a large field of wonderful nominations from other non-profits in the area, Donna rose to the top.
To quote from Donna's nomination: "Anita is one of our TREASURED volunteers." She "assists with our Restaurant Job Training Program (RJTP). The RJTP embeds life skills, workforce development, accountability, STEM principles, and financial literacy practices...
Anita's role is to assist with food prep in the morning, support the job curriculum in the afternoon, mentor the kids, and clean up after dinner. She spends 10-15 hours a week volunteering at MPTC. She works with the staff, the kids, and other volunteers. She is reliable, compassionate and has a strong work ethic... Anita is willing to step in wherever and whenever we need her.
Anita's most profound impact was during the first year of the pandemic. We expanded our mission during this period to include feeding the community. She was with us 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. Along with six staff members, she prepared and delivered over 1250 homemade restaurant-quality dinners and 200+ snack/hygiene/household staples kits per week for fifteen months. We became a daily mobile food pantry serving 250 people.
Anita has been volunteering with us for seven years, but she has always volunteered in her local community. Most notably building sets for high school musicals. Additionally, as a former nurse, Anita volunteered with regional social service organizations for the past 40 years.
Anita is a tireless kids' advocate. She is relentlessly championing efforts to ensure that kid's voices are heard and that those with the least have the most advantages she can provide through her loving efforts and our networks. She is exemplary in hour she carries herself: savvy, intelligent, brave, articulate and a gentle bulldog when she needs to be. Whatever it takes to ensure that kids are safe and have a better chance at life... Anita is a vibrant force and always encourages others to support a cause.
She is our special friend and angel. We are blessed to have Anita's influence on the kids."
The Altrusa Portland club donated $500 to My Place Teen Center in honor of Anita's exceptional dedication.