meet volunteer lisa hautly of kirkwood
Home Sweet Home: To give families a sense of pride and improve the quality of their lives by providing basic household furnishings
How long have you been a volunteer?
This is my second year.
What made you interested in this particular cause? Some churches in Kirkwood were doing furniture drives for Home Sweet Home, and around the same time, I was trying for find homes for items. It seemed like a good fit. I got to know executive director Betsy Reznicek and learned more about the mission. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the organization. On a personal level, I like that it’s really boots-on-the-ground. I get to help people sleep in their own beds or sit at their own tables with real dishes for the first time. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to help people transition out of homelessness. On a larger scale, I love how Home Sweet Home takes a complex social health issue and streamlines the process to find a solution. What they’re doing is working, and I’m happy to help them in my own little way.
What kind of volunteer work are you involved with?
I am not the brains of the operation! I’m just one of many volunteer worker bees who all deserve recognition. I gather household goods and get them to the organization. Not long ago, I held a community-wide dish drive. I have friends at Big Rush Marketing, and they made posters that I put up. We had drop-off locations throughout the city and county. My porch was one of the sites, and we had a party there at the end to celebrate Home Sweet Home and the families it helps. Betsy came and spoke. It was a great, fun way to raise awareness and provide new and gently used tableware for our families. My goal is to spotlight the organization and spread the message. I try to raise awareness of how people can connect goods with those who can use them. I want everyone to see how repurposing items and supporting the organization benefits the community. Home Sweet Home does a great job of getting people to share their stuff!
If you could do anything for the organization, what would it be?
I want to continue to create awareness of the mission and the process. Our community is so generous and has such a big heart when it comes helping others. People need to learn how easy it is to connect resources to individuals in need. Home Sweet Home is still relatively new, and there’s a lot to be done. I want to connect its efforts to businesses and organizations that can help them grow and meet their mission. Plus, I would love a million-dollar grant!
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
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