SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Members of the General John A. Sutter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), presented three community service awards for voluntary service to the local community on Saturday, September 17^th at the Sylvan Community Center at 7521 Community Drive in Citrus Heights.

Each of the three award winners were nominated by someone in the local community who suggested them to the DAR Sutter chapter for this special recognition. The Members of the DAR Sutter Chapter wish to acknowledge, honor, and thank these three honorees for their important contribution to the local community.

The honored recipients were:

Susan Maxwell Skinner, for her work in the community teaching about wildlife along the American River, community historian and speaker, and coverage of veteran events. Skinner is a reporter for the Messenger Publishing Group and writes feature stories for the Carmichael Times. Skinner, through her American River Nature blog on Facebook, has photographed and tracked a pair of bald eagles along the river for approximately 8 years.

“It’s the closest the American Bald Eagle have ever nested to the Sacramento area. They are truly beautiful and wonderful creatures,” she said. Skinner said she was honored to be recognized by the DAR for her work.

“It’s an honor to give back to the community you love with the skills you have,” Skinner said. Follow her American River Nature Blog at www.facebook.com/Susan-Maxwell-Skinner-1543823865927571

Karen Wilkes, for her work with “Days for Girls” in Rocklin, where she recruits recruiting volunteers, conducts fundraising, and teaches the necessary skills to sew, assemble, package, and prepare to mail a kit of supplies for girls in areas where they are forced to miss school and help them continue their education.

Brad Wilkes, her spouse, was also recognized for his help to manage, store, transport and mail these much-needed packages to countries around the world.

Together, the Wilkes help provide sustainable, fabric menstruation products to girls and women in 120 countries across six continents. More than 2,000 women, men and youth in Northern California and beyond have been involved with making the components of the “Days for Girls” kits with the Wilkeses.

“It’s also unified our community in an effort to come together to wash, iron, cut, sew, serge and assemble kits,” Wilkes said. The pair expects to assemble and distribute over $2,000 kits this year. They continue to reach out to support the needs of homeless women in south Sacramento, Los Angeles and in the Central Valley.

Visit www.daysforgirls.org/ to learn how you can help, or email [email protected] for further information.

The General John A. Sutter Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), is a non-profit, non-political organization. The chapter meets on the Saturday of each month between September and May at the Sylvan Community Center, 7521 Community Drive in Citrus Heights.

Women who are 18 years of age and older and descended from a man or woman who aided in achieving American independence between April 19,1775, and November 26, 1783 are welcome to apply for DAR membership.

For correspondence, the Chapter mailing address is P.O. Box 1284, Citrus Heights, CA 95611-1284. Visit: californiadar.org/chapters/generaljohnsutter/ for more information or email: correspondence@[email protected]

The John A. Sutter Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution presented community service awards during a recent Citrus Heights meeting. Honorees were Carmichael photojournalist Susan Maxwell Skinner (center) and activists Karen and Brad Wilkes. DAR chapter leaders are Deborah Bartlett and Dianne Poppert.