May Volunteers of the Month
We are excited to introduce Charlie W. and Scott A., our May Volunteers of the Month. They volunteer with our Mobile Food and Hygiene Pantry, helping ensure all members of our community have access to culturally relevant and nutritious food.
Staff members Henry and Izzo nominated them, sharing,
“Charlie and Scott have truly been an invaluable asset to our team and our organization, and their consistent dedication and unwavering reliability have made a tremendous impact to our Pantry programs. First and foremost, Charlie and Scott are the epitome of trustworthiness. No matter the task or the challenge, we can always count on them to follow through with excellence. Their commitment is evident not just in their work ethic, but in their kind and dependable nature. They will always go above and beyond, ensuring that the job gets done with a smile. They bring a warmth and positivity that lifts the spirits of everyone around them and their kindness is felt by both the staff and the community we serve. What stands out the most about both Scott and Charlie is their incredible reliability. They never call out and are always willing to fill in when there is a scheduling issue. Whether it’s a last-minute change or an urgent need, they both step up without hesitation. This dependability has made our Mondays—and every day in between—much easier, and for that, we are truly grateful. For these reasons and more, I believe they both are more than deserving of being recognized as our Volunteer of the Month. Their dedication, kindness, and positive attitude make them an irreplaceable part of our team.”
Scott and Charlie shared more about their experience below:
Q: Tell us about yourself and your background.
SA: I’m married with two children and three wonderful grandchildren. While I’m not a Colorado native, I’ve called this state home for over 40 years. I’m retired after a 32-year career with Lockheed Martin, and I’m also a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, a licensed pilot, and a trained French chef. My wife and I share a deep passion for international travel—we’ve explored 28 countries so far, with more adventures planned this year. Immersing ourselves in different cultures not only broadens our perspective but also deepens our appreciation for both the beauty and the challenges people face around the world. I volunteer with the JSF Mobile Food Pantry, which gives me a sense of purpose and the opportunity to make a small but meaningful impact in my community.
CW: I grew up in Chicago (I’m a White Sox fan, like the Pope). Danelle and I raised our 5 children there and when the youngest started college we moved to Durango, ultimately moving to Denver in 2015. I was a small business owner, retiring in 2017. We have 3 grandsons in the Denver metro area, with a granddaughter arriving in June. I started as a volunteer at the Weinberg Food Pantry in 2022. Since 2023 I’ve been a weekly volunteer on the mobile food pantry.
Q: What motivated you to begin volunteering with JFS?
SA: I wanted to give back to the community. I've been volunteering since November 2023
CW: My parents instilled in us the importance of community service. When I heard about JFS and its many programs in 2022 I chose the food pantry as something I thought I could contribute to on a regular basis.
Q: What's your favorite part about volunteering with JFS, and how has being a JFS volunteer impacted your life?
SA: My favorite part is meeting the people with all types of varying backgrounds, coming to our pantry and hearing some of their stories. It has given me a sense of purpose. I also enjoy the professional staff that have a true dedication to the JSF Mission.
CW: The best part of working with JFS has been the opportunities to meet, greet, and work with the dedicated JFS staff, its warm and welcoming participants, their devoted families, and the many "strangers" I've encountered. Volunteering with JFS has helped to fill numerous empty spaces on my "life calendar" with purpose, variety, joy, and so much satisfaction.
Q: Do you have a memorable story about your JFS volunteer experience to share? If so, please share below.
SA: There are so many: One was a 98-year-old woman, dressed eloquently. She was so appreciative and thankful. She reminded me of both of my grandmothers, and it was so meaningful to be able to help her.
CW: About one month ago, one of the young women in the ACE program told me that her birthday would be celebrated in February and I was invited to the ACE celebration. After an especially warm welcome from the ACE staff, participants, and "birthday girl," my happiness was beyond measure. I also had the opportunity to attend a performance of "A Chorus Line" with the Best Buddies program, performed by the Phamaly ensemble. Not only does the show itself address the many challenges faced by the characters auditioning before the show's director, it was performed by a troop, each of whom is facing their own personal challenges, and I was accompanied by a group facing its own individual challenges. Perhaps this is the consolidation of life itself.
Q: What would you say to someone considering volunteering with JFS?
SA: Being an engineer, I value concise organization, useful purpose, accountability, and measurement of effectiveness. JFS has all of those things.
CW: JFS has been welcoming, inclusive, and so appreciative of its volunteers. The quality and variety of its programs are truly outstanding. I look forward to each and every program in which I can participate and believe that anyone interested in doing the same will find great personal satisfaction and reward.
Are you interested in volunteering? Learn more and sign up today.