(CNN) - Sal Dimiceli has spent decades helping people get back on their feet.
Through a local newspaper column and his nonprofit, The Time Is Now To Help, Dimiceli assists about 500 people a year with food, rent, utilities and other necessities. He concentrates most of his work in the Wisconsin area where he lives.
CNN asked Dimiceli for his thoughts on being chosen as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011.
CNN: How does it feel to be selected as a top 10 CNN Hero?
Sal Dimiceli: I'm ecstatic. I want to cry thinking that CNN and people recognize the poverty that is out there so we can help even more people.
I hesitate to talk about myself. My heart is about giving, helping, not receiving. This is such a great, great honor. At the same time, the help I provide is from my desire, my heart, to ease the pain and suffering and fear of the poverty-stricken.