Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Month! We cannot let April go by every year without celebrating and highlighting a few of our MANY wonderful volunteers. We are so grateful for each and every one of our volunteers who have dedicated their time and service to one or multiple of Denver Rescue Mission’s nine different locations. Impact happens when we unite together to provide hope for countless individuals in our community.
John Peck
Youth Center Volunteer, The Crossing
John has been a breakfast volunteer at 48th Avenue Center for three years and has been a tutor for the Youth Center for two school years.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“Sometimes, when you’re having a bad day at work, it can seem like an inconvenience to come here and tutor, but when you arrive here and the kids start coming in and they see you, every once in a while, some of them will come up and give you a hug. It reminds me why I’m here, why I’m doing it and all the other stresses of the day just kind of seem to melt away. I just find that very gratifying and that’s what keeps me coming back.
There’s one young gentleman who doesn’t like math, doesn’t like multiplication, but after working with him for several weeks you could just feel that sense of accomplishment, that he can figure this out. So when you can make that kind of breakthrough with a young one, that is always gratifying.”
What advice do you have for future volunteers?
“Just go ahead and take the plunge. One of the most gratifying things you can do is to lend your hand and give some help to somebody who needs it. The gratitude that you get back is more than anything you could ever expect, and it’s not something that just goes away. You carry that with you for a long time, and it just makes a difference. So if you’re thinking about volunteering, just go ahead and find something that you’re passionate about. There are plenty of opportunities here and you won’t regret it. I guarantee that. MC and her staff really do a great job; the curriculum that they’ve put together really makes it easy for a volunteer to step right in and make a difference.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“When you connect with the kiddo, you can see them come out of their shell. And when it comes to schoolwork, some—like a lot of kids—it’s not their favorite thing to do in the world, but when you help them understand something that they didn’t quite get at the beginning, you help them look at it from a different perspective. When you make that connection, and the kid comes in and they give you a hug because they’re glad that you’re here, that really it makes it all worthwhile, believe me.”
Staff Shoutout
“Consistency is really important to us in the Youth Department, as consistency supports the stability of a child; therefore, we prefer to introduce our kiddos to individuals who are going to show up for them regularly. One of the qualities I appreciate most about John is his consistency with the kids. He shows up for his assigned shift every week, on time, armed with the same level of positivity and energy that he readily shares with the kids. I’ve watched as John has built meaningful relationships with certain kids during his time volunteering with us. It’s been a joy watching those kids gravitate towards and grow closer to him each week. John has a servant heart, which is made evident through his level of intentionality and engagement with the kids in the Youth Center.”
MC Crawford, Children, Youth & Family Manager
Matthew Pathammavong
Meal Prep/Service Volunteer, Lawrence Street Community Center
Matthew started volunteering at least once a week at the Lawrence Street Community Center during the fall of 2024.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“I think that happens every day, not just from the friendly staff and how easy you guys make it to volunteer, but more importantly, you see the impact that you’re making right away from serving food to helping prep the meals that are going out every day. It helps me practice gratitude.”
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“Just get started. Don’t overthink it. Just sign up; Denver Rescue Mission makes it super easy.
And always be open to be a dishwasher too; that’s where they really need help. Meal prep is only an hour, and I would challenge anyone who wants to get involved—it’s 60 minutes. There are so many things that you do for 60 minutes a day, and you can really make an impact if you just shift it over here.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“Individuals in the line who we’re serving food to—everybody seems to be super appreciative of you just giving your time. And then the conversations I’ve had, not just with the staff, but other volunteers and hearing their stories, it’s been great for me to learn from other people too.”
Staff Shoutout
“Starting at the end of last year, Matthew took a challenge to volunteer more hours than he had the year before. While he has far surpassed the hours that he put in, he continues putting in hours and comes in whenever we are short-handed. His heart to serve the Mission and God is evident in the work that he does and the joy he brings to the staff and guests here.”
Kennedy Dunnick, Lawrence Street Volunteer Coordinator
Jessica Wagner
Activity Leader Volunteer, Fort Collins Rescue Mission
Jessica has been volunteering for four years as an evening activities coordinator at Fort Collins Rescue Mission, teaching and facilitating arts and crafts once a week.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“I can think of many moments of why it’s worth it to serve and why it makes a difference. One example is a guy who came in who had been coming very consistently for several weeks. He had opened up to me and told me about his past when he was in and out of prison. He struggled with substance abuse very heavily, but he told me that art was a really good outlet for him, and that it had helped him stay clean and have something creative to look forward to every week.
Since then, he’s gone on to find housing and he has a steady job. It’s been this beautiful story, and I’m very proud of him for what he’s done. I’m just excited that I get to talk to these men every week, talk about their highs and lows, and kind of do life with them.”
What advice do you have for future volunteers?
“Be brave and try it and then be patient with the process. It’s pretty intimidating when you start volunteering to know that you’re making a difference or to keep showing up every week, but it’s absolutely worth it. Just stick it out, keep showing up and the results will show themselves.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“I see my efforts making a difference in the community by just helping other people get involved. I’ve been talking to friends and family about finding ways to volunteer and get involved in the community. We do a lot of fundraising or donations for art supplies and different things like that. And it’s also amazing just to see the difference in the guys’ lives, seeing them show up every week and giving them a creative outlet. It just amps me up, and it’s really exciting to see the difference it makes.”
Demitri Epps
Warehouse Support Volunteer, Ministry Outreach Center
Demitri has been volunteering once a week for a little over a year helping sort donations at the Ministry Outreach Center.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“I volunteered one morning, and I saw people going in and out of the Client Services store. I do most of the sorting of the clothes for people who go inside the store, and I saw the smiles on their faces, and it kind of made my heart a little fuzzy. And after that, I was just like, ‘Yo, I think this is where I need to be. My work actually does something.’”
What advice do you have for future volunteers?
“Keep it up; don’t stop. What you do actually makes a difference and has an impact.
Even the smallest duty is the biggest fulfillment to somebody else. And as a volunteer, I feel appreciated. I feel like all the volunteers who come here are really appreciated, and not just something that somebody just says, they actually mean it from the heart.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“From the people I’ve seen come here and the few I interacted with, I feel like it’s made a big change in their life. They kind of get a sense of direction and just keep going. I mean, because this is a big step and it’s a tough world out there. I experienced homelessness at one point in my life, and it was really tough. I think that’s another thing that drew me here to help out, because when I was in another city and I didn’t have any help, I kind of dug myself out of the hole by myself. So, I think that the things that they do here for homelessness are great. I’m like, ‘Hey, man, put me on board. I want to be a part of this.’ I mean, they help them get cars, get a place, a church community, and I just wish I had that when I was going through my time, but I’m a part of something now.”
Staff Shoutout
“Demitri has been volunteering for a long time. He has a light about him that just brings joy. He has connected with several of the New Life Program guys and has had good conversations with them. He has been a huge help to me, whether he is hanging clothes, stocking the store or sorting donations. Even after a personal tragedy, he chose to continue to volunteer and give back to the community. It has been my pleasure to have Demitri volunteer with me.”
Shannon Farr, Client Services Coordinator
Blaine Sanderson
Meal Service Volunteer, The Crossing
Blaine began volunteering at The Crossing in the summer of 2016. He gives his time and energy to the participants in the New Life Program and Bridge program and often brings a loyal group of teenagers with him to serve meals.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“A gentleman by the name of Paul who was here for a time one day took me aside and said, ‘You may not think it’s a big deal to come and serve a meal, but to us, when you come and serve, it tells us that we’re important, that we matter, and for a lot of us, that’s a feeling we haven’t had for a long time.’ So that really hit me when he said that.”
What advice do you have for future volunteers?
“God blesses you through it, and there’s just such a sense of fulfillment. It’s just putting that foot out the door and saying, ‘I’m going to try it,’ and that’s the most important thing. When I’m at home, I can focus just on myself, but when I volunteer, I take the focus off myself and focus on others.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“The CEO of Denver Rescue Mission has talked about going to the shore and seeing all these starfish, and a man seeing one and throwing them back in. Someone else comes and says, ‘You’ll never save them all.’ And the man who was throwing the fish says, ‘Yeah, but I’ve saved that one.’ The CEO told us about the fact that, you know, the homelessness problem won’t ever be solved. But that’s not the point. The point is, who is in front of me that I can minister to? And so, for me, it’s just being able to know that I’ve been able to pour into someone else’s life, maybe get to know some of the guys in New Life or Bridge, but also the guys who are serving in the kitchen and share some experiences.”
Staff Shoutout
“Blaine is a very reliable volunteer. He is always on-time and cares about the people the Mission is serving at The Crossing.”
Stephan Smiley, Chef
Dave Staats
Bible Study Volunteer, Fort Collins Rescue Mission
Dave has been volunteering for a year and a half at Fort Collins Rescue Mission, leading a Thursday night Bible study.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“There was quite a few, but I just remember when I was starting out, we finished the Bible study and there was an older guy, and he started getting a little teary. He said it was just a big blessing, and he gave me a really big hug, a nice big, bear hug. So that was great to know that God is working in people’s lives.”
What advice would you give future volunteers?
“It can be kind of a challenge. Sometimes I feel like a fish out of water.
It’s such a different environment, but it says in Isaiah that God’s word does not come back void.So trust that God is going to let the Spirit do the heavy lifting and just try to do what you can. We’re living in a hard world, but there’s hope. You always have hope to offer. None of us, just by ourselves, can do much impact on our own, but together as a bunch of volunteers and the great staff, and with God’s help, we can actually do something a lot more comprehensive and powerful to help with the whole homeless situation.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“At the end of some Bible studies, you kind of wonder if it made much of a difference. But then other times, there are people who come up and say it’s really been a blessing. It’s not just what I do, but other people like providing dinner. One person said he’d been spending nights under a bridge, and he was getting to the place where he thought it was a matter of time before he was going to freeze to death. So you can tell it’s making a difference.”
Alexis Olivas
Donor Relations Volunteer, Admin & Education Building
Alexis has been volunteering for six months for the Mission’s Development team where she communicates with donors about the change that they’re making in the lives of the people that we serve.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“A lot of times when people think of volunteering, they think of being on the direct line to where I would be working with the demographic Denver Rescue Mission serves, as to where my role is where I interact with the donors who help make everything happen. I have had a few moments where I speak to these donors who are so generous, and it’s so rewarding to speak to like-minded, loving and supportive individuals.
The biggest heartwarming experience I’ve had here is this one particular family—they’ve been supporting Denver Rescue Mission for an extremely long time, but they’re experiencing the hardships of a long and well-lived life. They asked for some prayers for their health and their well-being. They’re not able to move around as much to come volunteer anymore, and we had a true, genuine conversation on their mission, the life that they’ve lived and how they would love all the support and prayers that we can give. That was incredibly rewarding and heartwarming that I was able to provide some words of comfort to people who others may think they have everything, but they also need support and prayers.”
What advice would you give future volunteers?
“Network, get to know people’s names, get to know their faces. There has not been one person who wasn’t incredibly kind and offered any piece of knowledge that they can give me, whether it be for my schooling, my interest in internships or just further volunteer opportunities. Even when I have questions about what Denver Rescue Mission is, everyone is so willing to give their knowledge to feed my knowledge. And so, my advice would be, gain that knowledge and act as a team and a community to improve yourself and allow everyone else the support to improve each other.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“There is a stereotype on volunteer work and on the people who donate for the work to be done, but I’ve gotten a larger insight on how these people have their struggles too. A lot of times, these people are not these big corporations; they are regular families who themselves were impacted by homelessness, or they have a loved one who is impacted by homelessness, and they just want to serve and help. To get to know these families and see them, instead of seeing the donor, I think that’s wonderful. It’s really rewarding, and I would encourage more people to look at all sides of a community. Rather than seeing what they’re giving, why are they giving?”
Staff Shoutout
“Alexis jumped right in and is an outstanding addition to the Donor Relations Team! She loves connecting with our donors over the phone and is always genuinely kind, inquisitive and helpful. Alexis has such a heart to serve! She’s willing to do whatever is needed, whether that’s calling donors, labeling and stuffing envelopes or making database updates.”
Heather Wachter, Donor Relations Manager
Jeff Rasp
Meal Service Volunteer, Lawrence Street Community Center
Jeff has been volunteering for about two decades. When he worked in secondary education, he would bring high school students from Strasburg to serve breakfast at the Mission’s Lawrence Street location. He now comes in nearly every week by himself to help serve meals.
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“I don’t know if there’s a single moment, but I can tell you, number one, it’s watching how much the students enjoyed it when I brought them with me, how productive they were, how generous they were. That just excited me to watch them want to serve others, even if it meant getting up early. Also, the people who come in for a meal, and how appreciative they are always impresses me.
A lot, maybe 90 percent, say thank you every single time. And then another percentage of people will, as they’re going out, will just thank everybody in line. And that, to me, is outstanding. And the people who work here are amazing. Their attitude is so positive. First of all, they make amazing meals, but they also work so hard, and they appreciate it when volunteers come in.”
What advice do you have for future volunteers?
“Just start. To me, providing needs that I feel everyone should have, is inspiration enough. But if you find something that you have a passion for, or that you feel people really need, then go do it.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“It provides a place that they can consistently rely on, either for shelter or for a really good meal. It’s consistent; it’s every day. It’s a reliable place to serve.”
Staff Shoutout
“If I had one word to describe Jeff as a volunteer it would be dedication. Being this consistent over the course of many years is not easy, but without fail he comes in to help wherever he is needed. Even if it is a fuller shift, he is here to spread the joy of God with everyone he meets, be it staff, guests or other volunteers.”
Kennedy Dunnick, Lawrence Street Volunteer Coordinator
Jesse Reyes
Meal Service Volunteer, Fort Collins Rescue Mission
Jesse has been serving breakfast at Fort Collins Rescue Mission once a month for the past 6 months
What moment has impacted you while you were volunteering?
“A moment that reminded me why I serve was when we were walking as a family near Old Town, and one of our sons noticed a man experiencing homelessness who was struggling. And it sparked a conversation about how we need to care for those in need, and was just another reminder that even serving in seemingly small ways has a large impact on our community.”
What advice would you give future volunteers?
“Advice I’d give to someone considering jumping in, would be to just do that. Just to jump in.
You don’t need any formal training, you can just show up and be ready to serve. I would encourage you just to try serving a meal for a shift. Start somewhere. It’s a low commitment, but my guess is that as you jump in, you’ll find out how easy it is, and you’ll want to serve even more.”
How do you see your volunteerism making a difference?
“I see my efforts making a difference in the community, not only through the men we’re able to serve, but also the people we’ve been able to pull in to serve alongside us as well.”
Volunteer and Change Lives
Volunteers help make this life-changing work possible. Sign up, and be a light in our community!
