A heart for helping
Logan Jewell Benefit is Sept. 20
SHELBYVILLE
Gary Warford has a heart for serving others, especially when it comes to children. The Shelby Energy staking engineer and Harvest Church youth leader is always looking for ways to assist kids and their families in his local community.
“If there’s any way that I can help somebody with something, I’m all ears,” says Warford. “And if I can do it, I’m in.”
Several years ago, he organized the Logan Jewell Benefit, a fall golf event held to offer financial support to Logan and her family. Eight-year-old Logan, who is battling brain cancer, is the daughter of Warford’s co-worker Johnna DeWitt. “I wanted to make the burden be less for them as far as any kind of medical bills or travel expenses,” he says.
This past June, Warford was a counselor at Shelby County Christian Youth Camp, his second year in that role. His friends, Andy and Annie Anderson, started the camp on their farm three years ago. Open to all kids at no cost, this year’s three-day camp hosted the largest group of campers yet—around 80.
“They’re fully fed three meals a day, and there’s lots of games. Lots of cool stuff,” says Warford, adding that plans are already in the works for more camping fun next summer.
Around the holidays, Warford and his wife, Monica, supply food items for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals—plus gifts for children—to families who need a helping hand. When it comes to finding others to serve in his community, he says, “It just seems like you pray that whatever God wants in front of you shows up. And it seems like you don’t have to look very far, and it just comes right in front of you.”
Warford believes it’s important for people to “sacrifice a little bit of time for others.” And even though he’s quick to do just that, he doesn’t want any credit for his efforts, noting that everyone pitches in to make it all possible.
While he acknowledges that he can’t help everybody, he is dedicated to reaching out to everyone he can, especially children who are unable to help themselves. “I would say if I had my goals for something, it would just be for kids,” says Warford. “That’s where my heart’s at, is kids.”
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This year’s Logan Jewell Benefit will be September 20 at the Henry County Country Club. To learn more, call (502) 321-9015. For more details on showing support for Logan Jewell DeWitt and her family, visit Facebook: Love for Logan Jewell. Find more camp details on Facebook: Shelby County Christian Youth Camp 2025.
AMY COBB is the author of two book series for children, Band Geeks and Libby Wimbley.
