Karen Assetto says she looks forward to Thursdays.
For the past 14 years she has spent those days working quietly and steadily at Cay Galgon Life House, filling bags, sorting donations, assembling outfits, and every now and then, holding a baby while a mother shops. She is the kind of volunteer who simply enjoys the work she does helping others . Happily tucked among boxes and bags of heartfelt donations, she just keeps going, giving in ways both seen and unseen.
Karen’s connection to the Life House began with a May 2012 announcement in her church bulletin about an open house at Life House, when it was called Mary’s Shelter and the organization had just opened its doors.
As she walked through the space, she saw clearly that moms and babies were at the heart of the mission. Then and there, Karen decided she would be part of a community that surrounds mothers with practical help and quiet encouragement. “I wanted to be part of doing what I could to help,” she says simply. On her way out, she noticed a volunteer sign-up sheet, so she signed her name.
“I’ve been volunteering for many years, and I’m always into something,” she recalls. “I thought, well, this sounds good. I’ll just sign up and see what happens.” The very next day, she received a call that began her volunteering to support women navigating some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives and the babies who depend on them. Fourteen years later, her Thursdays are centered around meeting each family’s needs. She sorts incoming donations and carefully assembles baby outfits by size, gender, and season, as well as sorts and packs essentials like diapers, wipes, formula, baby clothing, and personal care items for mothers.
When a mother arrives carrying her infant and wants to browse the free racks, Karen tenderly offers to hold the baby. “That’s rewarding,” she says, “to see the mom’s smile.”
For anyone considering volunteering, but unsure where to begin, Karen’s advice is simple: “Come to Life House and take a tour. Walk through the rooms. Witness the work at Life House firsthand. I believe that once a person sees the care, the organization, and the people behind it, the decision becomes clear.”
What keeps Karen coming back is the satisfaction of doing something useful for those who need it and the genuine joy she finds in the women she serves alongside. At the heart of it all is gratitude. These are moms and families experiencing hard times who are regular people like you and me, but they happen to be in an unfortunate situation. I just feel blessed that I am able to volunteer. I just want to give something back.”
We are sincerely grateful to Karen for 14 years of faithful, generous, behind-the-scenes service, and for showing every mother and child that they are seen, supported, and genuinely surrounded by people who care.
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