Governor Bill Lee will honor Jackson County High School Senior Karly Anderson with the Governor’s Volunteer Award this weekend.
The award highlights both adults and young people making a difference in their communities. Anderson has her own platform called “4 Legged Friends” which helps raise food for animal shelters in the Upper Cumberland that are struggling to provide food for dogs and cats.
“I’ve done a lot of volunteer work from just raising money for certain organizations to raising dog food and cat food to animal shelters,” Anderson said. “And I’ve had over 400 hours of volunteer time in my whole high school career. So I guess it’s finally paying off and I’m finally getting an award for it and I get to meet the governor which is a pretty cool experience.”
Anderson said she has volunteered at local homeless shelters and with organizations including Give Kids The World Village and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Anderson said she credits her family for developing her love for volunteering.
“Probably my mom,” Anderson said. “She volunteered a lot in her life and my brother right now he’s at college and he’s constantly volunteering with athletic training and helping a bunch of different colleges and high schools.”
Anderson said she has loved animals since she was born but got inspiration to help animals from her 14-year-old cat.
“Honestly she has really pushed me to like help all kinds of different animals because I know what a lot of them go through,” Anderson said. “And I know that a lot of people need help with their animals.”
Anderson said she hopes to continue helping animals as she aspires to become a veterinarian.
