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

Crisis Assistance Ministry serves critical need

This last week I had the opportunity to go into a number of clothing stores – each set to roll out new spring clothes. One store I went to was the Crisis Assistance Ministry store, and in that store there were no sale signs, price tags were missing and the commission-based sales reps were no where in sight. This store provides free clothing for people in need.

Along with eight other Hands On Charlotte volunteers, I helped to get the store ready for spring. We dispersed throughout the store and began pulling all heavy winter items from the racks. We loaded them in bins and reloaded the shelves with more spring appropriate clothing. One of the Hands On Charlotte volunteers asked where the clothes go that are taken off the racks. The Crisis Assistance Manager stated that the clothes were sold by the pound and the money generated was used to help maintain the facilities as well as provide financial assistance for people who needed help to pay bills and keep a roof over their heads.

Once we filled the new racks with clothes we walked to the back of the warehouse where we were lead to a long table with bins of clothes around it. We took the bins of clothes and unloaded them down the stretch of the table, gathered around the table and began organizing the clothes. We made it through a few bins before it was time for us to leave. I looked around the warehouse and saw many other bins of clothes and didn’t want to stop, but I knew that it was time to step away for the evening and come back next time.

Hands On Charlotte needs at least15 volunteers to help the store twice a month on Tuesdays from 6-8pm, and I look forward to attending the next one on April 5.

Ryan Kamp is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.