If the thousands of animals that have spent time at the Tails Humane Society animal shelter in DeKalb could talk, they’d surely say Nancy Rigler is among their heroes. Rigler, 77, of DeKalb, has been a Tails volunteer for half a century.

When someone is having what could be the worst day of their life in DeKalb County, a team of people you’ll likely never see is often the first to help. The dispatchers working in the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office are the voices on the other end of a 911 call.

For some DeKalb County residents who don’t have family to spend holidays with, John and Julie Ahlbach are there for them with love, compassion and a meal.

As the librarian at Cortland Elementary School, Leslie Leahy said she’s put a lot of effort into ensuring the library can be a welcoming environment for all. “I wanted this to be the center of the school,” she said.