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Guy Everhart's fate was sealed as a man of community service when he met his wife, Sue.

Everhart, 68, of New Market, is a retired captain in the U.S. Navy, who served from 1963-1991. His wife, like many military wives, joined community service organizations in the places the couple has lived to get to know the people around her.

"It's a good way to learn the community," she said.

Now retired, Everhart has joined her in her community service as president of the Board of Childcare of the United Methodist Church's Volunteer Auxiliary, a member of the New Market District Lions Club, and of Providence United Methodist Church in Monrovia.

The Volunteer Auxiliary recently received the group volunteer of the year award from the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries at a ceremony in California.

The Everharts returned to New Market on Saturday, dealing with jet lag and daylight-saving time. Everhart said the trip was worth it, as the Board of Childcare's mission is important.

The Board of Childcare is a state-funded entity in Maryland that provides care for children of dysfunctional families, and tries to help them into foster homes or adoptive homes, Everhart said.

"These are not trouble-makers," he said, "but their parents — for whatever reason — are not able to take care of them properly."

The auxiliary served as a fundraising arm for the Board of Childcare, which covers expenses such as religious programs, which the board cannot pay for with state money, he said.

They also will buy the children Christmas presents and other goodies periodically.

"We sometimes consider ourselves to be the aunts, uncles and grandparents of the kids," Guy Everhart said, adding that auxiliary members like to spoil the board's young charges.

Everhart became involved because of his wife Sue, who is the president of the Central Maryland Chapter of the Volunteer Auxiliary, said she needed a treasurer. He asked if he could be a treasurer in the female-dominated organization, and his wife brought him on board.

"It's historically been a women's organization," Guy Everhart said.

He later became the fist male president of the auxiliary, which serves Maryland and Jefferson, Berkley and Morgan counties in West Virginia.

Sue Everhart started as a "key person" for Providence United Methodist Church in Monrovia in 1993, and later became the president of the Central Maryland District. That chapter has a meeting coming up on April 8 at 7 p.m. at Morgan's American Grill in New Market. "Everyone is welcome," Guy Everhart said.

Guy Everhart said he is impressed with the success rate of children in the board's care, many of whom graduate from high school and go on to get jobs, despite their rocky start.

The Everharts have been married for 43 years, and the couple was set up on a blind date by their mothers, who worked together.

"It's their fault," Guy Everhart said.

E-mail Christian Brown at chbrown@gazette.net.