Elijah Nelms has won the City of Anna's Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022, 2023, and 2024, earning the recognition each time based on the highest volunteer hours logged in the program. In 2024, Coach Mark Harris was also honored with a Coach of the Year Award, marking the first time the program recognized that separate category.
The City of Anna operates its volunteer program through three divisions: the Recreation Division, Keep Anna Beautiful, and the Community Enhancement and Compliance Division. Each offers distinct opportunities for residents to contribute time and skills to the city.
The Recreation Division recruits volunteers to support senior programming, youth programming, and special events. Residents with specific skills — fitness instruction, tutoring, event coordination — can apply to share those abilities through structured programming.
Keep Anna Beautiful coordinates two litter cleanup events per year: one in the spring and one in the fall. The city notes that the environmental impact extends well beyond Anna's borders. Trash generated locally moves through Anna's creeks into the East Fork of the Trinity River and ultimately into the Gulf of Mexico. The twice-yearly cleanups typically require only a few hours of participation per resident.
The Community Enhancement and Compliance Division periodically organizes additional service projects and events, though specific dates are announced on a rolling basis.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented annually to the volunteer who accumulates the most hours across any combination of these programs. Nelms's three consecutive wins signal sustained, high-volume engagement with city programs over at least three calendar years.
Residents interested in volunteering can review program details and submit an application directly through the city's official volunteer portal at annatexas.gov/1373. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, with no listed deadline for general volunteer enrollment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Anna, TX Volunteer of the Year Award in 2024?
Elijah Nelms won the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award — his third consecutive win after also taking the award in 2022 and 2023. Coach Mark Harris was separately recognized as the 2024 Coach of the Year.
How do I apply to volunteer with the City of Anna, TX?
Applications are available at annatexas.gov/1373. The city accepts volunteer applications on an ongoing basis with no listed enrollment deadline.
When does Keep Anna Beautiful hold its litter cleanup events?
Keep Anna Beautiful hosts two litter cleanup weeks per year — one in the spring and one in the fall — each requiring only a few hours of participation.
What volunteer opportunities does Anna, TX's Recreation Division offer?
The Recreation Division seeks volunteers for senior programming, youth programming, and special events. Residents with specific skills can apply to share them through city programs.
Why does litter cleanup in Anna, TX matter beyond the city limits?
According to the City of Anna, local trash migrates through city creeks into the East Fork of the Trinity River and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico.