Editor’s Note: This is Part I of a three-part series that highlights volunteers in the Richland and Ashland County areas. Today covers Katie Carr, a volunteer for the Kroc Center located in Ashland.
ASHLAND – Katie Carr has been volunteering for The Ashland Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center since Oct. 2019. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent five days a week, five hours a day, helping with their food pantry. Even now, she volunteers two days a week.
When Carr speaks about her volunteer work, her deep care for the Ashland community shines through—and she is also living proof that the influence of loving, generous grandparents can inspire a spirit of service for generations to come.
“My grandmother was a big influence growing up,” Carr said. “(She would say), ‘We’re going to go take a meal to somebody who’s sick or check on neighbors.’”
“That just kind of ingrained in me, you know, you need to be able to help your community. Find something to do, even if you’re working, to be able to be a blessing to somebody else that may not have that.”
Carr’s parents also helped people in different ways, like having her brother’s football team over for meals. She views these examples in her family as an enormous blessing, and she aims to set an example for her own kids to always “help where you can.”
At the Kroc Center, the food pantry provides groceries as emergency nourishment for Ashland County residents. Carr emphasized there are many reasons people need this program, and there should be no shame in asking for help. She is very grateful the program is able to provide for so many families, and she wants anyone who needs help to receive it.
The Kroc Center’s food pantry operates from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Tuesday through Friday. Groceries are provided for Ashland County families based on family size and individual need. To place an order, call (419) 282-4223.
This past Christmas, over 500 families were served, according to Food Pantry Coordinator Theresa Watson. Carr’s volunteer efforts helped to keep things running smoothly in their busiest season.
“She does everything from unloading stock in our delivery truck to checking customers in when they come. And then she also takes out the grocery orders to them,” Watson said of Carr. “She does the whole thing.”
In addition to her hard work and willingness to fill various roles, Watson also spoke of Carr’s character. “She is always kind to everybody. It doesn’t matter who they are. She is always kind and generous and caring for that client,” Watson said.
After over a year of continuously serving in this capacity, Carr feels motivated to continue, encouraged by the response of families she has helped. Their expressions of gratitude convey how much of an impact this service makes, and many are completely astounded by the amount of groceries they receive.
Due to COVID-19, a lot of local families are struggling financially due to extra family members moving back home, whether college students, young adults or parents. One large family Carr recently encountered left a lasting impression on her.
“I could tell that it was hard for them because everybody had moved back home,” Carr said. “They came and they got their groceries and the woman said, ‘God bless you. Thank you so much for what you guys are doing. We didn’t expect to be able to get this; this is an amazing opportunity for us to be able to come here.’”
“From (11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) at the main building, we serve food. (I said), ‘ You can go ahead over there and get a meal,’ and the woman actually cried. I just wanted to give her a hug.”
In addition to seeing the difference the food pantry is making in the lives of strangers, Carr is grateful for the community she has become part of at the Kroc Center, made up of fellow volunteers and staff members.
For anyone looking for an opportunity to serve their community, Carr recommends contacting the Kroc Center by calling (419) 281-8001. Volunteers can pick the days they serve, and the organization is always looking for helpers from the Ashland community.
“It makes a huge impact on your life. If you’ve never done it before, I highly recommend coming in and just checking it out,” Carr said. “I always tell my kids, ‘If there is anything in life where you just feel like you are dreading this, then it’s time to move on,’ but I never feel that way (at the Kroc Center). It’s an amazing place to be able to volunteer and I love the staff and everybody’s really friendly.”
“I just want to thank God for giving me this opportunity to be able to do this, to be able to be a blessing to other people and help people that I might not otherwise be able to help.”
