By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Council honored Jennifer Bowman, Kathy Thompson and Mike Morrissey as the 2021 winners of the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. awards.
At council Thursday evening, individual resolutions were read for each of the MLK award winners.
Thompson has been a lifelong resident of Ocean City and shows what it means to give back to her community, her resolution stated. She volunteers in God’s Kitchen, serving lunch to Ocean City residents. She helps each month in the Atlantic City Urban Partnership preparing and delivering food to 200 people. Thompson is in charge of Terrific Tuesday Dinners at St. Peter’s UMC and is a trustee of the church. She delivers her own meals to Ocean City residents and is involved in Boy Scouts. Her two sons and three grandsons are all Eagle Scouts.
A lot of people’s lives would not be the same without her, according to the resolution.
Bowman, an Ocean City resident, is part of OCNJ CARE, an organizaiton formed after Superstorm Sandy and resurrected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution notes she gives hundreds of hours to the community, including the Spanish community and senior citizens. She is part of God’s Kitchen, providing meals and groceries to residents. Bowman delivered Thanksgiving dinners to housing authority and Wesley By the Bay and has worked with high school Key Club and other events to help seniors, including the Red Carpet walk instead of prom, because of COVID-19 restrictions and a drive-thru after-prom prize giveaway.
In the summer she leads Cookie Kids at St. Peter’s where children bake cookies and sell them, donating proceeds to charity. She also has three daughters who serve the community.
Morrissey, according to his resolution, has dedicated his life to country and community. He is a Vietnam veteran who as commander of VFW Post 6650 has built the post stronger. The VFW, under his leadership, has always been there for residents of Ocean City, the resolution states, and VFW members donated more than 2,000 meals to Ocean City residents in need during the pandemic. The post has supported first-responders and front-line medical personnel.
In addition to running a variety of programs for veterans, the post sponsors Boy Scouts, Little League, Sunshine Foundation, Historical Society, Ocean City Theatre Company and many scholarships.
Councilman Keith Hartzell read the resolutions to Bowman and Thompson, who were at the meeting, and on behalf of Morrissey.
Later in the meeting, other members of council and the administration voiced their congratulations to the winners and also noted their admiration for the four students who won the MLK essay contest.
