Paulette Krebill and her friends have been volunteering at The Open Door since 2020. For the last three years, every Wednesday, this friend group’s filled morning volunteer shifts for food sorting. While they are there to help The Open Door get ready for its daily operations, they are also there to laugh, spend time together, and enjoy each other’s company, and friendship, while giving back.
Paulette, Karla, Dawn, Corry, Terri, and Mary all met through their kids’ school, and they all go to church together. When they all first met and became friends Dawn owned a greenhouse. Every week, these women would get together at the Greenhouse to help Dawn with various tasks. Eventually, Dawn sold the greenhouse.
“We decided we couldn’t just shop and go out to lunch,” Paulette said when explaining how they transitioned from helping at the greenhouse to volunteering at The Open Door. “We needed something else to do together.”
Paulette had known of The Open Door and reached out to explore volunteer opportunities. Food sorting at the old Mobile Pantry warehouse in Apple Valley fit best for the group, so that is where their new, weekly friend gathering began.
“Not everyone can make it every single week,” Paulette said. “People come when they can and it’s just nice knowing there is a set day and time for us to get together.”
Some weeks the group’s volunteer shift is paired with another activity or lunch. Other weeks it’s just the volunteer shift. Regardless of the set-up, every week, this friend group not only volunteers their time to help feed people in their community, but is fostering meaningful friendships along the way.
Their dedication to giving back together is a shining example of the positive impact that a small group of friends can have on their community. They are a testament that simple acts of kindness can make our world a better place, one Wednesday at a time.
Want to schedule a weekly volunteer shift with your friends? Or even a monthly volunteer shift?! Visit theopendoorpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer to explore our volunteer opportunities and get started today!
Way to go ladies!