A Profound Difference for a Few

For Fran, volunteering is about more than filling her time. It is about serving others and making a difference in the lives of the people she encounters.

For the past two and a half years, Fran has volunteered in the kitchen, helping with meal preparation, cooking, dishes, serving lunch, processing donations, and whatever else is needed. She typically serves two or three days a week and is willing to come in when an extra hand is needed.

Serving others has been part of Fran’s life for years. Through her church, coaching her children’s sports, serving as a Girl Scout leader, helping collect and sort donations, and transporting meals for those in need, serving is a part of who Fran is.

When she retired, she wanted to continue serving in a way that was meaningful and consistent.

“I figured I can’t save everybody. I can’t help everyone. But I can make a profound difference for a few.”

Her husband, who worked as a police officer, first introduced her to the Mission. Through his work, he encountered people experiencing homelessness and would sometimes bring people to the Mission when they had nowhere else to go. Fran saw his respect for the way the Mission served people and eventually decided it was where she wanted to spend her time.

Volunteering has also changed the way Fran understands homelessness.

Before coming to the Mission, much of her experience had been from the streets and through her work in emergency rooms, where she often saw the difficult realities of addiction and homelessness. But serving in the kitchen has allowed her to meet people in a different setting—to see families who have lost their homes, people facing job loss, and individuals carrying stories she may never fully know.

“I know I’ve discovered that everyone has a story.”

For Fran, serving means recognizing the dignity of each person who comes through the doors. A warm meal, a smile, and being treated with respect can make a difference.

“Most people are very grateful. They have a very nice meal and in abundance, and it’s varied, and we put a lot of, take a lot of pride in what we do. So that’s very rewarding for me.”

Her favorite part of volunteering is simple.

“Oh, the people, I love working with the people.”

Fran’s faith is also woven into the way she serves. She believes that caring for people requires more than words—it requires action.

“Words without deeds are dead.”

She knows she cannot solve every problem or help every person. But she can show up. She can serve a meal. She can offer a smile. She can make someone feel seen.

And her encouragement to others is simple:

“Step outside your comfort zone and just do it.”

For Fran, serving may not change everyone’s circumstances. But it can make a profound difference for the person standing in front of her.

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