Volunteer Spotlight: Ron and Michelle Jackelen

By: Laura Grevas

Ron and Michelle Jackelen probably wouldn’t describe themselves as foodies. But when the couple met in 1972, you could say that food was involved.

Ron was working at McDonald’s when he met Michelle, whose family had just moved from Alabama the week before.

“I was the manager in charge for exactly one hour while everybody else was in a meeting and it was Michelle’s first day,” recalls Ron.

These days, they spend their time among potatoes of the un-french-fried variety as greeters for The Open Door’s Eagan Pantry. (Greeters are volunteers who welcome clients to the Pantry and check them in for their appointments.)

The couple started volunteering on the same day in 2017, having learned of The Open Door through both their faith community at Easter Lutheran Church (a founding member of The Open Door), and their volunteer work with Loaves and Fishes.

They’ve both been active supporters for years, but when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, Michelle paused her efforts in order to protect her health. Eventually, Ron did too, taking a break to care for family and oversee his granddaughter’s distance learning. But he did continue long enough to witness the agency’s pivot to serve the community safely.

“We were standing outside in the cold loading people’s trunks. We wouldn’t let them in the shop, I think. At least for a while. They told us what they wanted, and somebody shopped for them and brought it out to them,” Ron said. “And I think even after I had to leave it evolved.”

In early 2023, they both returned in full force. Michelle volunteers one day a week, more if anyone in their greeters group needs a sub.

“We have a text thread where we kind of help each other out,” explains Michelle.

The Jackelens bring great value to The Open Door as cross-trained volunteers. In the previous location, Michelle made appointments (called client support), and served as a pantry assistant. Ron is color-blind, so his stint as a food sorter in the warehouse was short-lived, but he did love his role as ‘Concierge’ – a pandemic-specific position that was later ended.

“The concierge is a fancy name for a traffic cop. We would make sure that we wouldn’t have too many people in the shopping area. I liked that job, but it got lost. So, I ended up trying greeter, and that’s what I’ve been doing since,” Ron said.

The pair has seen some changes during their time volunteering. They had more free time at the previous location. Now, the Pantry serves far more Spanish-speaking families, and the need for more bilingual volunteers is evident.

“Now, we’re quite busy in multiple languages. We do much more,” said Ron. “I talked to somebody in Ukrainian with my app on my phone.”

Michelle has been learning Spanish through Duolingo. Both have become adept at using technology and those around them to communicate effectively with clients. While they sing the praises of The Open Door’s Spanish-speaking staff, even their granddaughter, a student at a Spanish immersion school, has helped interpret when she accompanied them on a volunteer shift.

“She was just kind of standing behind us and trying to help me a little bit,” said Ron. “At some point the pantry assistants needed help. I said, ‘just go, just do whatever you can.’”

“And they said she was great,” adds Michelle.

The couple enjoys spending time with the other volunteers, but they also have fond memories of interactions with clients.

Ron recalled helping one woman who was locked out of her car; two years later, she still occasionally brings him egg rolls as a ‘thank you’. Michelle said she’s particularly touched when a client comes to their final shopping appointment.

“They’ll walk in. [They say] I’ve got a job, you know. And I’m getting my first paycheck, and I don’t need to come back anymore, so I’m not going to make an appointment. I’m going to say goodbye and thank you so much.”

Clients give them egg rolls, hugs, Christmas cards – even special news:

One mother entered the Pantry, and Ron confirmed she was shopping for a family of six.

“She said, ‘Yeah, we may soon be seven. I’m going to have a baby. And I said, ‘Oh, that’s nice, does your husband know yet?’”

He didn’t.

“I said ‘Well, thank you for sharing with me.’ And she laughed, because she had just found out,” recalled Ron. “There’s just some of those human moments.”

When they aren’t volunteering, the pair values the human moments in their own lives. They have three children and two grandchildren and enjoy travelling with their extended family – they have a 40-person trip planned to Breezy Point this summer.

“I can’t do physical things much anymore, but I think our fun together is mostly with our kids and our grandkids,” said Michelle. “We’re going to be taking a big family trip next year to Portugal together.”

Michelle also likes gardening and going to dinner with friends. Ron has a hobby some find unusual: basement walking in their Burnsville home, striding from room to room while listening to audiobooks.

“People make fun of me,” he laughed. “But if you think about a treadmill, that’s even more boring. So yeah, I walk inside. I used to walk at the mall. It’s just a smaller mall.”

Perhaps all that time walking has allowed Ron to perfect his elevator pitch to prospective volunteers.

“If you’re going to do something, whether you’re retired or not retired, and you want it to have value, this place has value. And if I ever went to a volunteer orientation, I’d say, ‘This isn’t just about what you’re bringing here. You’re going to get a lot out of this. This is a really cool place, and you’ll feel good about yourself and what you’re doing.’”​

If you’d like to learn more about the Jackelen’s current volunteer role, Greeter, or any of The Open Door’s volunteer roles visit theopendoorpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer.