State Road resident presented with 'Good Scout' award

Each year different areas throughout Old Hickory Council Boy Scout council recognize individuals who exemplify the principals of scouting through their efforts to improve lives and serve the people in their local area.

For the past several years, the Elkin, Yadkin, Alleghany areas have awarded the Good Scout Award to a local citizen who has done so. This year’s honoree is Jane Montsinger who was recognized for her work in helping and changing the lives of others through her work with the Ark and Feed the Elderly program. Motsinger is the first woman to be recognized in the Elkin area.

Past honorees are Dr. Jim Harrell, Sr., Fred Norman, Dr. Hal Stuart, Tom Gwyn, Scooter Parker, Dr. Bill Blackley, Gary York, Dr. Steve Erlandson and Larry Irwin.

Originally from Winston-Salem, Motsinger move to State Road in 1979 and has a long history of serving the greater Elkin community.

Since 1982, Motsinger has been a volunteer with Feed the Elderly. She has served as the agency’s interim director since 2023.

Motsinger volunteered at Tri-County Christian Crisis Ministry, then served as its Director from 1994 to 1998. While at Tri-C she spearheaded a community movement to establish The Ark Homeless Shelter, then became The Ark’s Director from 1999 — 2006

She helped establish the Surry Homeless & Affordable Housing Coalition to create and provide decent affordable housing options for folks moving out of homeless shelters in Surry County. She received her certification as a spiritual director from the Hesychia School for Spiritual Direction in 2014.

From 2016 to 2022 she served as Hospitality Coordinator and Spiritual Director at the Well of Mercy retreat center in Hamptonville. From 2022 to the present she practices Spiritual Direction at Well of Mercy and via zoom.

Motsinger is an active member of Galloway Memorial Episcopal Church, where she has served as Senior Warden and currently serves as Treasurer. She was licensed as a Lay Preacher in 2016.

Since 2009 she has been a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has served as a mentor for two sisters, beginning when they were 9 and 11 years old, respectively and continuing to the present; one sister graduated from NC A&T University in 2022.

Motsinger adds the Good Scout honor to a list of others which include, 1998 Elkin-Jonesville-Arlington Chamber of Commerce — Citizen of the Year, 2004 Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award, 2007 Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC — Dennis G. Hatchell Community Leadership Award (the first woman to win the award).

In 2003 she was chosen by the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations in North Carolina Fellow, one of 25 North Carolinians selected by the Wildacres Leadership Initiative.

Motsinger is also a past member and president of the Yadkin Valley Rotary Club.