Kathy Part 1

Meet Kathy, one of our volunteers who helps our Farm Store run smoothly. She shares how she came to Cul2vate and what she’s learning about community. You can also watch the interview here. And be on the lookout for part 2.

How did you begin volunteering at Cul2vate?

Well, several years ago, I was talking to a good friend of mine who volunteered here at Cul2vate, and at that time, I was looking for a new place to volunteer. I worked at a lot of other nonprofits, but I felt like I was maybe falling down on our call to care for the needs of others, especially people who need food. And I had my eyes and ears open for a place that might be a good fit, and she told me that a farm store was opening up in the corner of the barn here at Ellington. And I thought, well, that might be a good fit. So, I contacted the volunteer coordinator, and I was here on the first day the farm store opened, and I’ve been here ever since. That was May of 2022, and I work on Fridays, so come on in the store when I’m here on Fridays, and I’ll be here to greet you and take care of you.

Have your ideas about what community means changed by volunteering with Cul2vate? If so, how?

Well, when I came here to Cul2vate, I was in between churches, and I really did not have a church community at that time, and coming here really made the point to me that we do need community in our growth of faith. And I love the people that work here. It’s refreshing to be able to share faith openly, which, out here in the world, you know, people are not always receptive to that. And these people have helped me grow in faith and also just getting to know the Cul2vators that work here. You know, people come here for a lot of different reasons, and some of them have been through some tough times in life. And I get to see, every time I come here, I get to see people who have overcome such incredible obstacles and are growing and have this community of people that are supporting them. And what I didn’t understand when I came here and thought that I was coming to serve Cul2vate, is that these relationships would really help me grow in my faith, and that I need this community.