The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on March 7.
At only 17 years old, Maci Long, of Jackson County has gone above and beyond to serve her community. Her selfless acts of service have resulted in over 10,000 meals being distributed to individuals in need.
The Smoky Mountain High School senior was honored for her volunteer acts as she was the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 2019 her outstanding volunteer service in the Jackson County community.
The award aims to recognize individuals who meet criteria such as initiative, effort, impact, and personal growth. Long has well-exceeded the criteria as she has devoted over 400 hours to serving her community spanning all the way back to her 8th grade year.
Long was presented with the award by her principal, Evelyn Graning, and has since received more recognition through the county.
“Maci is so deserving of this honor,” said Graning. “We are all very proud of her and the hard work she dedicates to her community.”
The Sylva resident is an active member of Smoky Mountain High School’s Interact Club and National Honor Society through which she gets to fulfill her passion for volunteering. Long commits time to volunteering at local nursing homes, food banks, and her school.
When Long was just 13 years old, she became inspired to devote herself to making a project out of something that could impact something other than her grades. This is when she started her annual “Whee Run Over Hunger” event. When Maci learned that people in her community were without food she decided to take action. She came up with the “Whee Run Over Hunger” event as a way to give back to the community. Registering for the 5k or 3.1 mile event requires that individuals donate two canned goods and pay 12 dollars. All proceeds go to the Manna Food Bank. The run has taken place in both the fall and spring.
What started as a one-time thing turned into a successful annual event. With the first two runs, Long raised enough money to provide about 10,500 meals to the people of Jackson County. After this year, the event is projected to provide for about 14,000 individuals.
Long accredits her dad, Gary Long, for motivating her to pursue this project and providing her with resources of people in the community who could help make her dreams to help others a reality. The seventeen-year-old has found her volunteer work to be more humbling than anything.
“This kind of recognition was not my motivation, but I am truly honored to be recognized,” says Long.
Upon graduation, Long plans on continuing to serve her community. She plans on attending Campbell University, a private university in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Long will begin her college career in the fall 2019 where she will pursue a degree in psychology. Long hopes to one day be a professional in the field of psychiatry or social work. She has already met with Campbell’s counselors to discuss volunteering at the University’s soup kitchen and hosting her Whee Run event on Campbell’s campus.
Long adds that this type of achievement would not have been possible without the help of her eighth grade English teacher, Paula Fox, Alisa Hixson, the former corporate manager at Manna Food Bank, Dr. Randy Provost and Todd Baucom.
From a young age, Long, has had a passion for giving back to her community. This presidential feat marks only the beginning of Long’s commitment to helping those in need around her.
