Timothy R. Brown is the perfect volunteer. He'll do whatever is needed -- at least that's how the folks at the East End Cooperative Ministry in East Liberty characterize him.

EECM, at 250 N. Highland Ave., is an interfaith human service organization. Its mission is to help the hungry, homeless, and at-risk children and youth.

"Having Tim has been amazing," said Suzan C. Krauland, community relations director for the EECM. "Technically, he volunteers in the soup kitchen and food pantry, but if we need him to unload a food truck or sort Christmas presents, he'll do that. He has the ability and willingness to do whatever is needed."

Mr. Brown's eagerness and willingness has earned him a 2007 Jefferson Award for Public Service. He is one of eight recipients selected and will be honored in late February at an awards ceremony, where the PNC Foundation will donate $1,000 to the EECM on his behalf.

The award honors outstanding volunteers and is administered by the American Institute for Public Service and, locally, by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Foundation and Heinz Endowments.

"It's a wonderful award, and I am honored to receive it," said Mr. Brown, 38, of Moon. "It's not the reason I do what I do, but it's nice to receive recognition. Everyone needs a pat on the back."

Emily Huck, volunteer coordinator at EECM, nominated Mr. Brown for the award because he "stands out as a volunteer.

"The care he provides the people we serve is first-rate," said Ms. Huck. "He devotes an incredible amount of time, but he has also learned the ins and outs of our hunger program and can volunteer in any area, whether it's in the food pantry, meals on wheels or the soup kitchen. Most people only work in one area."

Mr. Brown and his wife, Heidi Bartholomew, moved to Moon from Memphis a little more than two years ago after she was transferred by FedEx Ground.

Mr. Brown, who has a marketing degree from the University of Akron, began volunteering at EECM in January, a few months after reading an advertisement for volunteers.

"I saw the ad and that day I called Emily. I guess it was faith that it was that ad on that day."

Not to mention Ms. Bartholomew, who also volunteers at the food bank once a month.

"The fact that my wife lets me do it is great," he said about the time he commits to volunteering. "I'm not working and she is. Obviously, for me, there's no work stress. It's just coming here and helping out wherever I can."

Growing up in Akron, Mr. Brown volunteered a little in high school and as part of youth groups, but it paled in comparison to his current level of commitment.

At EECM, he volunteers three days a week, logging roughly 60 to 80 hours a month. Some weeks, he'll work an extra day if he's needed to help prepare emergency "blizzard boxes," packages of food delivered to families in advance of storms or other bad weather conditions.

Ms. Krauland said it takes about 90 volunteers to handle just the food operations every month. She said other volunteers are needed to handle other jobs, such as mailings, tutoring and other events. EECM also provides housing and children and youth services.

Mr. Brown's responsibilities include assisting with the meals on wheels preparation. EECM delivers about 150 meals daily, which includes 75 bag lunches and 75 hot ones.

After delivering the meals, Mr. Brown returns to the center and helps prepare lunch in the soup kitchen and assists in the cleanup afterward. Once or twice a month, he provides groceries to families from the food pantry.

"We pass out food that we get donated from Giant Eagle and Whole Foods," said Mr. Brown. "A lot of the stuff is pre-packaged, but some of it is sandwiches and breads that are sent out on a daily basis. It's takes a lot of contributions."

Mr. Brown anticipates he'll always be a volunteer at EECM, unless, of course, he and his wife are relocated again.

"It's fun working here," continued Mr. Brown. "We've made friends with some of the other volunteers and kind of hung out socially, and that's been great.

"But I think, one of the greatest things I've experienced has been watching people sick with cancer or other illness or addictions come here and volunteer," he said. "They have the hope and strength that things will get better, and that amazes me."