Citizen of the Year announced

Staff Report

Edie Morgan receives the Citizen of the Yearaward from Key Peninsula Lions Clubpresident George Robison. Photo by Hugh McMillan

There were a record number of nominees for the 25th annual Lion’s Club Key Peninsula Citizen of the Year and though each of the 35 nominees were recognized as outstanding citizens, it all came down to one winner.

This year’s Citizen of the Year is Edie Morgan, executive director of the Mustard Seed Project. The Mustard Seed Project was spearheaded by Morgan to help elders on the Key Peninsula with basic services that will enable them to live in their homes as they age.

“I had gone into that evening thinking I was going to enjoy it as a community event,” Morgan said. “I asked a few people to join me and I relaxed and wasn’t thinking of the awards, so when I heard my name it was not what I was expecting.”

Morgan has lived on the Key Peninsula for more than 27 years, and spent 20 years in social work and long term care. She has a great appreciation and respect for those who have come before.

“These people have built this community and made it what it is,” she said.

She works hard to make sure that those elders who want to can continue to live on the Key Peninsula.

“The award felt like an affirmation of the work that I’ve been doing and it is an honor, especially considering there were 35 people nominated and any one of them deserved that recognition,” she said. “I feel loved.”

The Key Peninsula Lion’s Club has recognized an outstanding Key Pen citizen each year for 25 years.

“I think the Lions have done a great job over all these years in just creating a community recognition event and giving support to the whole spirit of community-building that exists here on the Key Peninsula,” Morgan said. “This year’s dinner was very nice with Derek Kilmer there as the Keynote speaker. I feel blessed to live in this community.”