June 14th, 2025, 11:00am MDT
Terry Fiet’s interest in volunteering began at a young age, inspired by what she calls the “joy of service” by her parents.
“They were always there, whatever they needed for their friends and neighbors,” Fiet said. “We were taught to follow Jesus Christ at home, and learned his example early and taught us about serving others in his name.”
FIET received the 2024 Senior Volunteer Services Award from Kentucky Governor Andy Besh earlier this year. She was one of 12 volunteers who were recognized at the 29th Governors Service Awards event on Wednesday, April 23rd.
The Lexington Kentucky North Stake was recognized last year by Governor Beshear for his economic challenges and humanitarian efforts following natural disasters. And in 2023, the church was recognized for its humanitarian work in July 2022 following a catastrophic flood in eastern Kentucky.
Fiet – A member of the Louisville-Kentucky Stock of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fiet has volunteered and organized volunteers for several local organizations, including the Kentucky refugee ministries, Feedlewill, Care, Goodwill, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities in Louisville, Christ I Foundation, Bright Lion Ival, Salvation Army, and Salvation Charities.
Fiet includes Jacob’s Ladder Outreach, Project Linus, Family Scholar House, Hope’s Closet, and St. We organized a donation drive for Bernadette’s Diaper Bank.
She also led the project at Greenwood Cemetery, preserved historical records and honored black veterans in Kentucky.
“Working with many organizations of different sizes and missions was to promote faith in order to see firsthand how God works with all his children,” Fiet wrote in an email. “My services at charities big and small and small, and small, helped me to better understand how we all need each other.”
A fellow Latter-day Saint and friend Shelley Salyyers said Fiet had dragged her in to serve for years. One year, Fiett convinced Salie and her husband to dress him as Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty for a community event.
“We loved her so much that we couldn’t say ‘no’ to her,” Sallyaz said. “She emulates everything I want.”
FIET served as board chair of the Kentucky Just Serve Advisory Committee from 2021 to 2023.
The JustServe platform is a free website and app that allows community organizations to list service needs and volunteers can find service opportunities around them.
Salyers said Fiet was able to connect through the JustServe app and coordinate the service project.
“Boy, she just went there, so she’s a brave little toaster,” Sallyaz said. “Even the extremely intimidating people and organizations, she still went and just did things she couldn’t think of.”
Fiet said: “Using JustServe allowed me to learn about organizations that I didn’t even know about my community.”
As a member of the church, Fiet said she was inspired by Joshua 24:15: “Please choose thee today, where ye serve. …But as I and my home, we will serve the Lord.”
“The examples and teachings of Jesus Christ help me to understand that in order to become his disciple, I need to follow my strength and serve others on behalf of him. When I serve others, it helps me to better understand Jesus’ mission.”
Fiet added that she saw what she served, “I am independent, confident, joyful and grateful to know that they are not alone.” And she encourages more people to join their community. She said she learned that everyone can make a difference in someone else’s life.
“I have seen their lives change because I feel the spirit of serving others and being disciples of Christ,” she said. “I have seen my children and grandchildren change their lives.
