In 2002, René Steele, her husband Robert, their four children, and a few friends founded the Labor of Love Mission (LOLM) from their home in Tiptop, an unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Virginia.
Their first initiative, “Christmas Families” (later renamed “White Christmas”), ensured that children in two families who otherwise would not have had a Christmas received assistance.
In 2004, LOLM moved to its current location in North Tazewell, operating in cooperation with Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc. As René notes: “Twenty-one years later, the Labor of Love is still going strong.”
What began as a single program has expanded to ten, including Saturday Food, White Christmas®, Personal Care, Thanksgiving Food, Christmas Food, Back-to-School Bash, Disaster Relief, Needy Meds Program, Emergency Food, and Summer Feeding Program.
This summer, Americans Helping Americans® partnered with LOLM to operate a summer feeding program serving children and youth in Tazewell County.
dental kits to mothers and grandmothers on June 21, 2025.
“Her dedication to her community started from one philanthropic mission to many,” comments Americans Helping Americans® Executive Director Cameron Krizek.
Throughout, René has served as a full-time volunteer, making her and Robert’s work a true “labor of love.”
René and her four children have received Gold Presidential Service Awards, and she has accumulated enough hours to earn the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. Under her leadership, LOLM has also received Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Awards.
In 2024, LOLM distributed over $1.5 million in in-kind items to the county and other organizations, serving nearly 100,000 individuals.
René remains a volunteer at LOLM and always has been. All the programs mentioned above would “cease to be” without her; she is the backbone of the Labor of Love Mission. If she were ever to leave, the doors would close.
But she doesn’t expect that to happen anytime soon:
“After 23 years, I am tired—really tired—but I keep going because of the children.
They are innocent; they can’t help if there is no money to buy a coat or shoes.
They don’t understand why Santa didn’t bring them toys on Christmas morning when they have tried all year to be super good.”
The purpose of the "Hero of the Month" grant program is to recognize and reward individuals who have made significant contributions to their community through commendable deeds, heroic acts, volunteering, and efforts to improve the lives of community members. Individuals awarded the Hero of the Month and the nominating organization will each receive a grant from Americans Helping Americans®.