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Hunter Clark receives Unsung Hero Award

Courtesy of Lana Clark
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This year a well known, behind the scenes guy, Hunter Clark was the very first recipient of the Unsung Hero Award, for his many good deeds in the community.

The brand new award was part of the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards, and installation reception, January 13, when Hunter's father, Fred Clark won the Man of the Year Award.

Hunter Clark said, "Thank you," upon receiving the award, after the crowd gave him the longest standing ovation in history, at Paradise Cove Lodge.

Hunter’s mother Lana Clark told the Kern Valley Sun that it was a surprise he got the award, and even she did not know about the award, until shortly before the dinner. "He was just surprised and excited. I am so proud of our community. This is such an amazing community that we live in," she said.

Chamber vice president Kelley McCoy explained the reason, for this new award, which she presented Hunter that evening. "We'll be giving that award away every year. It's voted on by the chamber board, just recognizing the people behind the scenes, because not everyone makes grandiose appearances or grand gestures. Sometimes it's the people behind the scenes, constantly helping with little things, that really is the glue holding the community together,” McCoy said. “I would like to personally say thank you to all the unsung heroes of our community."

Apparently Hunter has been in the news quite a bit over the years. In fact the young man appeared in the Kern Valley Sun when he was a 19-month-old baby. His mother Lana Clark said, "Hunter was with his great-grandfather. My grandfather was a veteran and he was receiving an electric scooter from the Veteran's Association.”

In recent weeks Hunter started volunteering to help with the Honor Flight Breakfasts at the VFW. Lana said, "I thought, what a full circle that is. He started in the newspaper, in an article about veterans, and then his newest volunteering is for the veterans. It's amazing, makes me want to cry." Lana is very sentimental about her son’s accomplishments and very proud of him.

Hunter was part of the original team placing Flags on the Boulevard since 2017. Hunter also promoted the need for volunteers to join that team, honoring our nation and veterans, in 2021.

Hunter's father, Fred Clark, serves on the board with SOS Dog Rescue. Hunter wanted to do something in the community too. He loves dogs and decided to volunteer to read to the dogs.

Robbie Miller and Jen Haratani, of SOS Dog Rescue said Hunter reads to the dogs often. According to Haratani, Hunter sometimes comes weekly, depending on the schedules of Hunter and SOS. According to her recollection Hunter started volunteering at SOS Dog Rescue about two or three years ago.

Miller said, "When Hunter comes and reads to the dogs, it's good for the dogs, and it helps us here at the rescue. It shows to the public how our dogs behave. And Hunter's energy is always just so pure and innocent, so the dogs usually respond pretty good. And it helps us highlight our dogs. And some of the dogs he was reading to have been adopted. And he just brings good energy when he's here because he lives in the moment. And we all learn from him." Miller also said that SOS is always grateful for Hunter coming and would always welcome Hunter's assistance.

Hunter has also donated artwork he created to SOS Dog Rescue, which the rescue auctioned to raise money for SOS Dog Rescue.

Hunter Clark has also volunteered at the Skilled Nursing Facility at Kern Valley Hospital.
Susie Seeger was the Day Activities Director at that time. Seeger said, "He was probably there volunteering with us for at least year, I would say 2019 through 2020, and into 2021. And he's a pure doll. And the residents loved him.”

Hunter continued to volunteer at the Skilled Nursing Facility at least twice a month, and also created cards, with a group he belonged to, for the residents at holidays and brought gifts as well. "The residents loved it. It was just an amazing opportunity for him and the residents," said Seeger.

During COVID Hunter continued making and bringing the cards to hand off for the residents at the Skilled Nursing Facility, though he could not visit inside, during social distancing. He would also come outside, by the fence, to visit them when the residents were outside. Seeger said that Hunter came in his Halloween costume, when she was in hers, and he proceeded to hand off cards to the residents.

Hunter also volunteered setting up or tearing down and cleaning up after the Great Christmas Cookie Contest and KRV Chamber of Commerce Bingo Bonanza events.

The young man has also volunteered to feed the fish, with his mother Lana, twice weekly for years, before the fish are released into the lake for better fishing. This deed helps the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby, and in turn the local economy, of the Kern River Valley.

Hunter and his mother Lana founded the Happy Feet Dances, which were originally monthly dances for special needs families. The dances have continued since around 2016. "When we first started, I was cooking the meals and Hunter helped set up and tear down," Lana Clark said. The First Baptist Church currently hosts these dances for the community.

Hunter Clark also serves as an ambassador to the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

On a side note, Hunter loves bowling twice a week and was on a Youth Bowling League previously, when he had enough points to go to tournament. He works out for fitness at OnPoint Gym and does yoga classes. Hunter cooks with his mom and shares his healthy eating recipes online with interested readers of his Facebook page called, “Where is Hunter?”

Hunter also likes participating in library events and especially art and painting classes. He enjoys travel and taking photos. His photography was previously featured in the Kern Valley Sun. Hunter also joined the Dream Team in Bakersfield where he and other special needs individuals were partnered up with racecar drivers. There Hunter became part of a pit crew for the night.

Hunter received the American Citizenship Award for his outstanding leadership, school spirit, respectful behavior toward others, and volunteer work, in his school and his community, when he graduated high school, from Valley Oaks Charter School in 2022.

Before moving to Kern Valley Hunter also participated dances in Hemet, CA. He is about to attend a Night to Shine Dance, which is a nation wide church dance.