Charles Ray Guidry Jr. of San Marcos has been selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people age 50 and older, to receive a 2022 AARP Texas Andrus Award for Community Service, the association’s most prestigious honor for a volunteer in Texas.

Guidry, 61, volunteers with the Open Door/Fig Leaf Ministry Program run by the University United Methodist Church in Austin. The ministry provides clothing, groceries, toiletries, and counseling to the unhoused community of Central Texas. For years, Guidry has driven on Saturday mornings before sunrise from his home in San Marcos to central Austin to help prepare hundreds of hot meals to give away.

Guidry, who is formerly homeless, said helping others is his way of bringing hope to others. “I have to give back,” he said. “I want to get one of them off the streets and then another. Whatever I can do within reason.”

Runners up for this year’s AARP Texas Andrus Award are Michele Belden of Murchison and Matiko Austin of Rosharon, south of Houston. Belden has volunteered with a food pantry while Austin serves with an initiative that assists high school students from disadvantaged communities reach higher education goals.

Austin, 52, said helping students reach seemingly insurmountable goals enriches her own life. “I’m blessed in that I’m old enough and mature enough in my career that I can carve out time to do volunteer work of this kind,” she said.

AARP Texas Director Tina Tran said Guidry, Belden and Austin represent the spirit of volunteerism that the Andrus Award recognizes.

“The Andrus award highlights the importance of public service and working together for positive social change,” said AARP Texas Director Tina Tran. “AARP values the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions volunteers make to their communities, neighbors, and the programs they serve.”

AARP Texas will present the Guidry, Belden and Austin with memorabilia to honor their work. AARP Texas also will make a $1,500 donation to the charity of Guidry’s choice. He’s picked the Open Door Ministry. Donations are also being made to charities chosen by Belden and Austin.

The Andrus Award for Community Service is named after AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. The awards recognize outstanding volunteers who are making a powerful difference in their communities.