United Way of the Coastal Empire Area Director Bonnie Dixon has made a career of helping others.
Dixon is retiring at the end of this year and her service is being honored when she serves as grand marshal of this year’s Rincon Lions Club Christmas parade.
Grand marshal honors were not expected, Dixon said.
“I was totally surprised,” Dixon said. “I would never have guessed they’d choose me.”
When the parade steps off Saturday morning at 10 a.m., Dixon and her three grandchildren will ride in the parade they’ve enjoyed watching together for years.
Dixon said when she asked if her grandchildren would ride with her in the parade they had one question
“‘Will we still get candy?’” Dixon said.
When she explained that this year, they would instead throw candy, they were quick to agree, Dixon said.
The parade also gives the United Way and Rincon Lions Club an opportunity to highlight new vision services they hope to soon offer at the recently opened Two Rivers Health/Medical Clinic, temporarily located at the Effingham United Way Service Center.
The vision services would be through the Lions Lighthouse, a mobile clinic that would bring vision services to Two Rivers.
“We are hopeful to include the Lighthouse Vision Services program to the Two Rivers Health Clinic early in 2016,” Dixon said.
Dixon has great memories of her time at the United Way.
“It’s been a great job,” Dixon said. “I just wanted to help people.”
Dixon said the people of Effingham helped her do just that.
When she started with United Way in 1990, Dixon thought the job was going to be a difficult challenge.
She was in for a pleasant surprise.
“It was a big surprise at how compassionate the community was,” she said. “It wasn’t near the challenge I thought it would be. People from all walks of life and professions came to the table to help find solutions.”
Dixon said she’s loved the last 25 years, but she’s ready to spend more time with her husband and family.
“My husband needs some supervision at home,” Dixon joked. “We enjoy being together. We’re not big travelers, we will be happy in our little Guyton home.”