The Ames City Council honored Barbara Woods, an activist in several Ames organizations, by presenting her Tuesday with the 2002 Ames Humanitarian Award.

Woods was honored for working on volunteer projects and for her long-standing involvement in organizations including the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Story County Empowerment Board.

She has also been involved in short-term community projects including the organization of celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. She was originally honored during the Ames Families of Ames Celebrate Ethnicities [FACES] celebration.

“She has made many contributions to understanding diversity in our community,” Mayor Ted Tedesco said. “Ames loves you.”

Woods said the Humanitarian Award was “unexpected, but very nice.” She said her activism is related to her passion for supporting causes she agrees with.

“There are things that need to be done in the community, and I enjoy being one of the people who do them,” Woods said. “I have a passion for being a part of efforts I think will benefit the community.”

In other action, Oct. 23 was proclaimed Eradicate Polio Day in Ames. Third- through sixth-graders from the Ames Community School District will be visiting residences from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday in an effort to raise money to buy polio vaccines. Last year the city raised $6,000.

Also, Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Ames housing coordinator, said the city of Ames still has not been designated a metropolitan area, despite the 2000 census showing that Ames reached the benchmark of 50,000 people. Presently, the federal Office of Management and Budget has a moratorium on designating metropolitan areas throughout the country.