Rylee Howerton Receives May 2021 New Jersey’s Heartland Hero Award

Rylee Howerton goes above and beyond for her community. Caring for those in need and spending her free time aiding those who are less fortunate, she aims high, achieves much, and generously bestows kindness and love for others.

Rylee handles her day-to-day tasks with ease, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, being a 3-season varsity track and field athlete, and serving as the freshman class vice president at Vineland High School. Recently, she assembled and donated Easter baskets for children residing at Cumberland Family Shelter and the Family Support Organization of Burlington County. Still, her outreach and community involvement extends much further than all of this.

Regularly, Rylee prioritizes her schedule and always sets aside time for causes near and dear to her. This includes serving meals and personal hygiene kits to the homeless through the Cumberland Family Shelter, the Southern Regional Food Distribution Center, Bridgeton Code Blue Warming Centers, Vineland Code Blue Warming Centers, the Bridgeton soup kitchen, the Vineland soup kitchen, and to individuals throughout Cumberland County! She will even deliver meals to the homeless located in a local park.

Throughout the winter, she cooked and donated breakfast several times per week for the Vineland Code Blue residents and meals at the Vineland soup kitchen. Rylee has worked alongside the Vineland Salvation Army before becoming a junior committee member. During the shutdown, she volunteered four days a week to sort, pack, and distribute food to over 150 families per day at the drive-through food distribution held by the Vineland Salvation Army.

Rylee has been recognized for her volunteer efforts by the President’s Volunteer Service Award program. She has logged over 4,000 community service hours, earning her 10 Gold Awards and the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This amazing young lady spreads her message of kindness through her authored children’s book entitled, Choose Wise Words. Rylee speaks to young students and reads her self-published work as a means to connect with and guide the younger generations. To obtain a video of her speaking engagements, book reading, or to inquire about how to purchase Rylee’s book, please email Julie Howerton at juliehowerton@gmail.com. Most importantly, the life she leads and her actions truly shine as an example and inspire us!

For these reasons, New Jersey’s Heartland is proud to honor Rylee Howerton of Vineland, New Jersey, as the May 2021 Heartland Hero Winner.

While New Jersey’s Heartland is filled with hidden gems, its biggest treasures are the people who make the region a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. All Heartland Heroes receive a Heartland Heroes Certificate and Gift Basket in recognition of their award. To nominate your Heartland Hero, visit  http://njheartland.org/live/heartland-heroes-nomination-form/.