Fort Collins Rescue Mission and Harvest Farm Honoring Volunteers this Month
Here at the Mission and Harvest Farm, volunteers are our heroes. They help us prepare and serve meals to guests with a caring smile, dedicate time to mentor and encourage program participants, as well as share messages of hope and possibilities of a new life. Volunteers are an invaluable resource that help our organization flourish as we do God’s work.
Last year, volunteers provided over 14,000 hours of service at Fort Collins Rescue Mission and Harvest Farm. This is equivalent to having an additional 6 full-time employees! It’s because of their dedicated service, that we’re able to meet the needs of the broken and lost in our community.
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month and the Mission, along with numerous non-profit organizations across the country, are taking some time to celebrate. Throughout #VolunteerAppreciationWeek (April 15-21), we will honor and thank our volunteers for their tireless service.
We’re excited to share the passion and commitment of four featured volunteers. We are so grateful for them, and all our amazing volunteers, for everything they do to #SERVENoCo!
Jim Lord
Jim has been serving warm meals to our homeless guests at Fort Collins Rescue Mission for seven years. He enjoys filling this need in the community and says, “It keeps me humble and helps me appreciate what I have more often.”
Jim loves trying to make our guests smile. He has made it his mission to help our guests feel important while they are here.
We appreciate the work you have put in at Fort Collins Rescue Mission Jim. Thank you!
Laura Stevens
Laura has been volunteering with Fort Collins Rescue Mission for the past two years. She loves being a Mentor and helping our homeless guests. Specifically, she has a heart for helping women feel good about themselves. Often, she donates clothing to fulfil this passion.
“Being a Mentor has been the most fulfilling experience at the Mission so far. In the midst of sadness, challenges and pain, we manage to find the humor and faith and laugh a lot together.” – Laura
Thank you Laura for showing compassion to our guests at Fort Collins Rescue Mission!
Marilyn Calcatera
Marilyn wanted to use her hair cutting skills to do good in the community. That’s how she got connected to Harvest Farm. Each month, over the past year, she has been offering free haircuts to men in the New Life Program.
She loves being able to have spiritual conversations with the men in the program and helps encourage them in this journey of their lives. “I can show some motherly love, provide encouragement and share a hug” said Marilyn.
Thank you for using your skills to touch the lives of our New Life Program participants, Marilyn!
Ryan Carter
Ryan serves as a preacher for chapel services at Fort Collins Rescue Mission and he has been doing this for the past year. His goal is to assist the staff in connecting the Mission with pastors and community leaders to maximize the care and service to those in need.
“I see the Mission’s guests as some of the richest and most gifted people in our city. Darkness has marginalized many people who are desperately needed and deeply loved.” Ryan loves the Mission because he gets to work with Jesus in the restoration process!
Ryan’s most impactful experience at the Mission was preaching to a man that had never been to church before or heard the Gospel. “I saw this man two weeks later, and he grabbed me and said, “Everything is changing!” He had started to read the word of God and exclaimed, “It’s really making sense to me!” Also, in that two week span, he was restored with his mother in San Diego, and was leaving that week to be with her again. I will meet this man in heaven!” Ryan shared.
Thank you Ryan for diligently doing God’s work with us at Fort Collins Rescue Mission!
These are just a few examples of passionate volunteers committed to doing the Lord’s work alongside us. If you’ve been inspired to give back and make a difference, we encourage you to serve with us! There are many ways to get involved. To learn more and sign up, visit: http://bit.ly/Volunteer4FCRM
