Dorothy Sorrell’s been volunteering for a quarter of a century. And at the May 26 Fairfax City Council meeting, she was honored for her many years of service to her community.

The Commission for Women held a reception for her before the meeting. And then, before the Council tackled the items on that night’s agenda, Mayor Scott Silverthorne and the Commission presented Sorrell with a proclamation officially acknowledging all she’s done to help others.

“This was quite a surprise tonight to see my family, friends, pastors and neighbors here,” she said. “Thank you for making it such a special night.” Sorrell also thanked the City Council for its “willingness to listen to issues that aren’t always politically popular.” And she said it’s “because of Mayor Silverthorne that there’s this openness.”

Sorrell thanked the City’s human services coordinator, Louise Armitage, as well, for “knowing the needs of the community and having a true desire to serve it.”

Then, as he gave Sorrell the proclamation, Silverthorne said the fact that so many people had come to the Council meeting that night to honor her “speaks volumes about her.”

SORRELL, who’s lived in Fairfax’s Green Acres community since 1968, serves on the City’s Human Services Committee as a volunteer. The City contracts with Fairfax County for various programs, and the Committee is the City’s representative to participate in entities such as the Community Services Board, Disability Services Board, the Agency on Aging, ASAP (Alcohol Safety Action Program) and the oversight of hospitals.

“I’ve been on the Human Services Committee for 25 years,” said Sorrell on Monday. “I was originally appointed as an at-large member on its Long-Term Care Committee to look at the needs of senior citizens and people with disabilities.”

After serving on that committee for several years, she turned her attention toward homelessness. “About five years ago, the county established the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness,” she said. “And I served as the City representative to that when the county was developing its five-year plan.”

“We submitted our plan and the county and City approved it,” continued Sorrell. “Since then, I’ve been an advocate to the City on behalf of people who are homeless. I attended Council meetings and spoke up when we had new developments coming in that we believed could provide affordable housing.”

Then, two years ago, Silverthorne appointed her to serve on a City work group tasked with creating a definition of ‘affordable housing’ so that particular wording could be placed into the City’s Comprehensive Plan. As a result, said Sorrell, “We proposed a definition and a plan on how to incorporate affordable housing, following the guidelines of the county and surrounding jurisdictions.”

This work was especially important when the Layton Hall apartments were slated to be torn down and redeveloped. And although the redevelopment plan was approved before the council could tweak and approve the new, affordable-housing wording as a guideline, the City did OK it, about a year ago. And the Layton Hall developer did agree to provide some affordable housing, but the project is currently on hold.

Meanwhile, Sorrell’s volunteerism continued. She was next asked by Silverthorne to serve on a work group to bring diversity to the City’s boards and commissions. “Each of us in the group talked to different cultural and ethnic groups about getting involved in the City,” she said. “I reached out to the churches and discovered there are 40 different worshipping communities in the City. And the mayor went with me to almost all the meetings I had with them, so we were able to put the word out – and we’re still working on it.”

Sorrell also enjoys gardening and is active in her church, Lord of Life Lutheran, and participated on its Call Committee to find a new, senior pastor. The proclamation she received at the City Council meeting honored her volunteer work and praised her community involvement and activism.

AND WHILE PLEASED, she said she was “quite surprised, because I think there are so many people doing more important work than I am. I hope this honor means that other people will be encouraged to step up and participate in City affairs. The City is open-minded and willing to listen – and that hasn’t always been the case. I also urge people to become members of the City’s boards and commissions; just contact City Hall.”