Lynda Best of Bluffton is one of eight winners of this year’s Jefferson Awards from Allen County.

Locally the awards are presented by the Lima News, Your Hometown Stations, the United Way of Greater Lima and Husky Energy.

One of the eight Allen County winners will be chosen March 27 to attend the national Jefferson Awards banquet, held in Washington, D.C.

Jefferson Awards are given to local unsung heroes alongside national figures.  The mission of the awards is to power others to have maximum impact on the things they care about most.

Best, owner of Village Cut ‘n’ Curl, 212 Cherry St., is a Bluffton native who had spent much of her life volunteering community activities.

Among these includes:
• Relay for Life Volunteer - Chair/co-chair of Bluffton’s Relay for Hope (volunteer    25 years, co-chair/chair 5 years)

• Ream Display volunteer - assisted with the set-up and teardown of the Ream Christmas Display in Bluffton for 25 years this past year worked to make certain that the display went up after the committee disbanded

• Bluffton Presbyterian Church Elder (2 years) - chair of the Mission Committee

• Fleece Blanket Tying Project through congregation and residents of Maple Crest Senior Living resulted in donations to Family Promise and Bluffton Community Assistance Program

• Bluffton Community Chili Cook-off raised over $2,000 (and numerous food donations) for the Bluffton Community Assistance Food Pantry through coordinated effort of churches and community members (2 years).

• Bluffton Presbyterian Church Deacon (4 years; not currently active) providing a visitation ministry to the members of the congregation, and assisting with funeral dinners

Speaking in behalf of Best's volunteer efforts, Carol Enneking said, "Lynda is a great ambassador for the Bluffton area and the Presbyterian Church is proud to claim her."

This year’s local Jefferson Award winners along with Best are Terri Beasley, Bev Beery, Earl Lhamon, Dave Roznowski, Bill Roeder and Jack Rex, Rachael and Cameron Staley, and Deborah Zwez.

The Jefferson Awards Foundation was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard.