Boling receives Service to Mankind Award for volunteer efforts

ALBANY — Harold Boling was awarded the Service to Mankind award recently by the Albany Sertoma Club to recognize his “unselfish work and dedication to the Albany area community.”

Boling said the honor was “an excellent, complete surprise. I’m honored to (have gotten) the award.”

Boling currently serves on the Anchorage’s board of directors, where he helps coordinate the program’s annual golf tournament and charity Pheasant Hunt. He also works on both the Salvation Army’s advisory board and executive board. During January 2017 storms, he drove the canteen truck, handed out food and beverages to storm victims and volunteers, counseled victims, and helped raise funds in the effort to both clear downed trees and provide food to give out.

Each year, he co-chairs the Toys for Tots Golf Tournament along with the Salvation Army.

Boling has also addressed homelessness in the area by working with the local Homeless Coalition of South Georgia. As an elder at First Presbyterian Church, he helped start the church’s Meals on Wheels program in 2009. Boling delivers one meal a week and fills in when another volunteer cannot work. He manages the other members so that they give out meals five days a week.

In the late ’90s, he was the president of the Thronateeska Heritage Center and served on their board of directors for about 20 years.

Along with his volunteer work, Boling also owns a website development and hosting company that maintains the websites of many local businesses.

Winning the award, Boling said, “means the organizations I’m fortunate enough to be involved in are doing good work and (that work) is being recognized by the community.”