Sharon Olbert, left, and Gretchen Lokey, with bell she got for helping asylum-seekers.

What: Ben’s Bells promote kindness and community involvement. Each week a person who makes Tucson better is β€œbelled.”

Last week’s recipient: Gretchen Lokey.

Nominated by: Sharon Olbert.

Why: For her work with asylum-seekers. Lokey runs the Inn Project, a church-based program for sheltering asylum-seekers who are brought to the shelter by the Border Patrol. They are in transit to relatives or sponsors in other states. They are temporarily housed and fed and taken to the bus depot by volunteers. β€œGretchen provides a respectful and safe environment for these often frightened refugees,” Olbert wrote in her nomination letter.

More info and to nominate someone: Go to bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to bensbells.org or call 622-1379 for information.


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