Mount Vernon Hero Honored With Volunteer NY Spirit Award

MOUNT VERNON — This year’s Volunteer New York Transformation Award winner, Nneka Bell, had a long road from being in desperate need of support from her community as a high school dropout and single mother of two small children to being one of the people there to support neighbors who have fallen on hard times.

Today, Bell has not only earned her high school diploma but has also earned a graduate degree from Mercy College. She owns her own successful construction and design company as well as a popular clothing boutique and works as an Adjunct Professor at Metropolitan College of New York.

Bell would be the first to admit that the journey from struggling bus driver to civic torchbearer wasn’t easy, but now the local business leader, U.S. Navy veteran and educator can add being recognized as a community leader by Volunteer New York, an organization that helps to match volunteers with worthy causes, to her list of impressive accomplishments.

"I think of myself as a philanthropist now," Nneka says. "I always thought that you needed to give money to do that, but you can give your time too."

Bell credits much of her success in life to those who helped her when she was most in need of support. She found an opportunity to use her life experience and professional skills to help return the favor when an opportunity to turn a disused office in the Mount Vernon City Hall building into something special presented itself.

After redesigning the unused space as a warm and welcoming refuge for a veteran’s program affectionately known as Kristyn's Closet, Bell used her knowhow to help provide local veterans with clothing and personal items. The safe space nestled among city offices also gives Bell a chance to help by offering a bit of wisdom to the veterans who find themselves struggling - something Bell knows plenty about herself.

Nneka Bell will be presented with the Transformation Award during the Volunteer New York 2021 awards celebration on April 9. Tickets for the virtual ceremony and a list of current volunteer opportunities are available on the Volunteer New York website.