Hat’s Off to Our Volunteers

Recognizing House Volunteers Serving 100+ Hours

During National Volunteer Week, the Family House highlighted the work of our House Volunteers. These volunteers commit to coming during regular shifts once a week or once every two weeks. They become invaluable members of the Family House team, and we couldn’t operate the same way if we didn’t have these dedicated House Volunteers to help with cleaning, tidying, folding laundry, organizing, data entry, gardening, delivering caregiver bags, writing thank you notes, helping with mailings, cataloging donations, and supporting guests by being a friendly face and a listening ear.

Here, we’d like to give a special shout out to these House Volunteers who volunteered over 100 hours in 2019!

Judy:

Judy’s first experience at the Family House was in 2016 as a guest caring for her brother. As she returned to West Virginia home, she said, “I’ll be back.”

True to her word, she soon moved to Winston Salem and became a house volunteer.

“I walked in and saw Marcia’s smiling face and just felt an overwhelming sense of love that I never felt before. I remember taking a tour and thinking ‘I need to be part of this. Someone is doing all of this for us.’ Everyone always asks each other ‘How’s your loved one?’ or ‘How can I help you?’ It brings me to tears to remember how it felt.

Sue:

Sue has been volunteering with the Family House since we opened! We know that interactions with the Welcome Desk are the first impression that many people have of the Family House. We’re grateful for volunteers like Sue who answer phones, help guests check in and out, and offer warmth and hospitality to everyone. Sue regularly does important data entry then switches gears to make delicious food for our Merry Meal potlucks. (middle in photo)

Grace:

Grace is a jack of all trades. Each week, Grace cleans out the shared refrigerator, makes coffee, cleans the kitchen, wipes down the microwaves, organizes snacks, and waters our house plants in order to keep them looking happy and healthy. She always gets our weeks off to a good start during her Monday morning shift. (left in photo)

Anne:

Without Anne, our data entry would have a humongous gap. Anne comes faithfully every Wednesday and keeps us organized. She works closely with Melissa and Lisa to make sure that Family House reports are ready to go each month. She is a behind-the-scenes champion who we love and adore.

Debbie:

Debbie quickly found her niche with the Family House. Outside! You’ll find her each week filling up bird feeders, watering plants, taking out compost, and seasonally planting our raised beds and planters. She helps make our outdoor spaces a peaceful oasis that encourages guests to get fresh air.

Reagan:

Reagan (left) shares why he comes back and volunteers 100+ hours a year.

“I moved here from Dallas 4 years ago when my wife was offered a new position with her company. Together we decided that I would retire and not return to work as a Real Estate Broker. After much thought, prayer, and deliberation I decided to live out my faith and do what the commandments say: love your neighbor as you love yourself. I had never volunteered in my life before I came to the Family House and now also at another place. This House allows me to be myself, to love people and serve people. I will do anything asked of me, however I’m often on trash duty. My greatest task here is to bring a smile to the face of a guest or wipe tears from sadness. I enjoy serving here at the family house. I enjoy being able to simply be myself, share my faith, make friends, and have a beautiful place to come where I truly feel like I belong.”

John:

When John is asked if he’s having a good day, he replies “it’s always a good day!” Every Friday, John picks up donations on his way into the Family House, and he gets to work making the kitchen tidy, donations organized, and snacks ready. He delivers caregiver bags, helps us keep track of supplies, and makes sure that our pantry is in good shape. John’s smiling face and faithful work is always inspiring.

Joyce:

Family House staff members look forward to Joyce’s shift on Tuesdays. She’s ready to help anything–folding loads of laundry, addressing envelopes, writing notes, cleaning the kitchen, delivering caregiver bags, tidying the shared spaces, recording donations, and much more. She’s the kind of person who makes a difference wherever she goes, and we’re grateful that she chose the Family House as a place to serve. (middle)

Keith:

Keith is another behind-the-scenes champion at the Family House. Thanks to Keith, our operations records are up-to-date, and we’re so grateful for his dedication and commitment to the helping us run smoothly and maintain accurate reporting. He even comes to volunteer when we have extra data entry to be completed, and we know we can always count on him. Thanks, Keith! (first on the left)