Volunteer Spotlight: Kelly Elkins

Spreading Christmas Joy

Eight years ago, Kelly and her husband, David, decided they wanted to build community and find ways for their neighborhood to serve others. Along with their next door neighbors, they invited people on their street to come to a workday at our previous Women and Children’s Center location.

“At first, we started gathering everybody together to show up at the house and do property work for the building and clean up the landscape areas,” Kelly says. “We also started putting together Welcome Baskets.” As Christmas came around, the group recognized how difficult the season was for the women and children, and they decided to bless them with personalized gifts.

“By far, my favorite thing is hanging out with ladies at lunch and getting to know them and their stories,” Kelly says. “I’ve learned that addiction recovery cannot be done in isolation. All of these women and their kids need community. People to love, support, mentor, teach and listen to them as they pursue one of the most difficult changes in their lives.”

“You don’t have to have any special training before you walk through our doors. You just need to have a heart for people and a willingness to love and support them where they’re at,” she says.

”When we love others, we begin to cultivate a heart for God and His people, which is how He designed us to live.” – Kelly