Volunteer Spotlight: Roy Shuler

For almost eleven years now, Volunteer Leader Roy Shuler, a 51 year-old native of Charlotte, has been at the forefront of Hands On Charlotte’s poverty-focused projects. As a testament to the health benefits of service, it was a doctor who first suggested Roy try volunteering in the community. From Race Against Hunger to Spruce Up Hospitality House, Roy soon became one of Hands On Charlotte’s most active volunteers. In 2009, he became the Volunteer Leader for Race Against Hunger, and we’re grateful to have his enthusiastic leadership for such an important project.

So why has Roy stuck around for so long? It’s crucial for him to give back to the community in such a tangible way, he says. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, where Race Against Hunger is held, allows him to do just that. Roy is good friends with the staff there now, and they regularly call him in on the weekends to do extra work. When asked which activity at the Food Bank he enjoys the most, Roy answers that he likes working wherever he is most needed.

And why is Roy such an ardent supporter of Hands On Charlotte? It’s an organization that has encouraged him to get out and help the community—and to do projects that he otherwise might not have considered. Roy’s volunteer history is evidence that he likes to spread his volunteer around, and Hands On Charlotte offers the variety of projects that he likes. However, he’s found that it is the projects he goes to consistently that end up being the most rewarding.

Perhaps the most important reason Roy is committed to volunteering is that he knows he is making a difference. When he’s at Second Harvest or Crisis Assistance Ministry, he can see the impact he has on the organizations, and more importantly, the people affected by them. Roy’s service experiences have changed the way he thinks about his community, and he’s learned how widespread poverty in Charlotte really is. He’s seen firsthand how crucial the school backpack programs are and how greatly people’s lives can be impacted by his work. And fortunately for the Charlotte community, Roy is showing no signs of slowing down. You can join him in his efforts to curb local poverty by checking out the many projects Hands On Charlotte offers each month at both the Second Harvest Food Bank and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Because if there’s one thing Roy’s story teaches us, it’s that a single individual can make a huge difference.

--Sarah Langford