Behind Andover's farmers market, its wetlands protections, and its safer crosswalks are eleven residents who just earned the Rotary Club of Andover's 2025 Citizens Who Care distinction — a recognition the club has handed out since 1996, and one that reads this year like a map of quiet, persistent generosity across town.

Mary Beth Ellis and Eric Olson lost their 5-year-old daughter, Sidney, when she was struck and killed crossing Elm Street in a marked crosswalk in 2023. Rather than let that grief sit still, they created the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund, which now supports the farmers market, SHED Children's Campus, and the Feaster Five race — and pushes for safer streets so no other family has to live their loss.

Don Cooper, an environmental attorney, has chaired the Andover Conservation Commission for 24 of his 40 years on the board, more than doubling the town's protected open space and writing Andover's 2002 wetlands regulations. "When you respect the rights of citizens, they respect your rights to enforce the rules," he said. Buzz Stapczynski, Andover's former town manager, has served on his church's Parish Council for 27 years and still mentors Eagle Scouts — a badge he earned himself back in 1965.

Ellen Arvidson runs the SNAP Match table at the farmers market, which distributed $8,500 in benefits last year, and turned the market into a food-donation site that pulled in 1,000 pounds of food for the Ballardvale pantry. She also helped bring together three organizations to build six affordable housing units on Lupine Road. Mark Morgan spends his time between Habitat for Humanity, Lazarus House, Bread and Roses, and the Ballardvale Pantry.

Ajita Bhat helped launch Andover's Diwali Festival, tutors struggling elementary readers, and co-chairs a cancer care walk with her husband. Shawna McCloskey and Kristine Arakelian both work through the Robb Center on Meals on Wheels and elder outreach. Susan McCready, after nine years on the School Committee, came back to volunteer work in 2024 tackling food and housing insecurity. Amy Janovsky leads the Andover Pollinator Pathway and co-founded a team that's logged more than 850 volunteer hours restoring local land. Marty Mahoney volunteers with Uncommon Threads, helping low-income women in Lawrence build confidence through clothing and image services.

Julie Diehl, who teaches in all five Andover elementary schools through the Elementary Strings program, was named the club's Educator of the Year for giving every third grader in town the chance to learn a string instrument.

Want to join in?

The Andover Farmers' Market runs Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 34 Bartlet St. through Oct. 17, and accepts SNAP with a $25 weekly match. The Robb Center coordinates Meals on Wheels drivers and elder outreach, and South Church organizes monthly Habitat for Humanity workdays.