EVERYDAY HERO Rich Stokes

Rich Stokes of Fairfield has been a frequent visitor to the Jefferson County Health Center.

He's not going there for appointments, but rather to bring gifts to the staff. Since mid-March of 2020, Stokes has purchased and delivered more than 1,100 doughnuts to JCHC staff, out of the goodness of his heart.

'I just feel like it's something I can do for the community,” he said.

The health center thanked Stokes for his magnanimity in a Facebook post in which the center wrote, 'Rich's generosity is very much appreciated. For all Rich has done with his doughnuts and encouraging words, we say ‘thank you' from the bottom of our hearts.”

Stokes said the health care workers are probably 'three to five pounds heavier than when I started this.”

'They'll have to work that off,” he joked.

Stokes's weekly gift of pastries is just the tip of the iceberg to his kindness. For many years, Stokes and his friend Ron Hunerdosse have dressed up and handed out candy at the health center and around town. They've dressed up as the Easter bunny, as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a Christmas tree and snowman, just to name a few. Sadly, the two had to put their candy distribution on hold because of the pandemic.

For nearly 30 years, Stokes has been the designated pitcher for the Challenger League, a ball league for people with disabilities. He said he was 'heartbroken” that he couldn't do it last year due to COVID.

'I started helping with the Challenger League because I like to do things that make people happy,” Stokes said.

Stokes also coached Little League for 28 years. He said he was inspired by his own Little League coach when he was boy, who he said was a 'super nice guy.”

- Andy Hallman