Karl: Giving back to community is what she loves to do

COSHOCTON – Maureen Karl is dedicated to Coshocton and to helping projects that better the lives of residents of the community.

Karl will be honored during the 2015 Crime Victims’ Week Luncheon along with four other local award recipients. The annual event recognizes individuals for their outstanding work helping victims in the area and is sponsored by First Step Family Violence Intervention Services and the Coshocton County Victim Assistance Program.

“I am both humbled and honored to receive this unexpected award,” she said.

Karl, who works at Coshocton Hospital, is a member of the 2015 Leadership of Coshocton Class, a community program of the Coshocton Foundation that requires participants to choose a group service project that will benefit the community.

Karl said she wanted to make repairs at the First Step shelter their class project and toured the shelter.

In addition to painting and repairs, Karl found a state-regulated fire escape was needed to open the third floor of the home, which is required in the case of male victims who need the shelter’s services. Without the third floor, male clients must be placed in a hotel, Karl said.

First Step’s tight budget did not include the $10,000 needed for the project, so she drew upon her passion for the need the agency fills in the community and her experience writing grants to help.

“I had written grants for Hope Clinic of Coshocton and thought I would try writing a few for First Step,” said Karl, who also is the president of the board of directors of Hope Clinic of Coshocton.

“I was thrilled when the kind people who donate money through grants came through,” Karl said.

She said that, through the grants, $16,000 was raised for First Step.

“It is through the generosity of the people and companies that supply the grant money that are truly making a difference in people’s lives,” Karl said. “I am thrilled that they chose to assist First Step.”

Karl also gives back to the community through her membership in Kiwanis, the Sacred Heart Parish Council and as a Polar Express volunteer.

“I love giving back to the community I live in. People in Coshocton have always been kind to me,” she said.

Recipients recognized

The annual Crime Victims’ Week Luncheon will be held April 21, at Grace United Methodist Church. The Tribune is featuring each of this year’s award recipients. They are Detective Thomas Couts of the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office, Maureen Karl of Coshocton Hospital, Katy Hunt of First Step, Donna Meyers and the Leadership of Coshocton County Class of 2015, and Jim McVey of First Step.