Congratulations to Debra Alphin, who was named Volunteer of the Year for Western Tidewater Free Clinic in Suffolk.

Alphin is a nurse who at age 50 graduated from Obici School of Nursing in Suffolk. That was four years ago.

And although she worked for a time at Obici Hospital, the mother of three has since chosen to work on the family farm in Carrsville while she volunteers as a nurse at the clinic.

Alphin helps those in need. Western Tidewater Free Clinic provides free health and dental care to low-income residents in Suffolk, Franklin, and Southampton and Isle of Wight counties. The clinic relies on its 240 volunteers, like Alphin, to get the job done.

Modest about receiving the award, Alphin and the other volunteers deserve praise for all that they do.