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Volunteer Appreciation Month
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month—a time to pause and celebrate the hands and hearts that make our mission possible. At the core of everything we do to serve the most vulnerable in our community are the volunteers who show up, time after time, ready to serve.
Their dedication is the difference between an empty shelf and a full table, between feeling marginalized and being welcome into places where our guests can flourish and grow. We simply couldn’t do this work without them. They are the backbone of our efforts, and this month, we’re honored to spotlight a few of the incredible individuals who remind us what compassion in action looks like.
Ana Franco
Volunteer since 2013
Volunteering at FHM has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I feel so much of the Lord's love while serving. It’s a unique experience, unlike any other volunteer experience, and has made my relationship with the Lord closer. Volunteering at the Father's Heart is the highlight of my week. It has made me more empathetic with my community. I have met some incredible people who are my Saturday family.
I give thanks to Jesus; He allows me to be part of Father’s Heart!
Claire McNamara & Murray Smith
My wife and I have found volunteering at FHM very rewarding. It’s a wonderful environment where guests and volunteers of all faiths and none are welcome. The program seeks to satisfy our guests' immediate needs by providing a hot meal and groceries for the week while offering spiritual support for those seeking it.
We really feel part of the community, and we appreciate the relationships we have developed. Volunteering is also challenging at times. Seeing the poverty our fellow New Yorkers face is heartbreaking. This has made me more conscious of the needs and suffering of those around me and made me very grateful for the life I'm fortunate to live. Volunteering has also helped give me perspective week to week.
Finally, the volunteers and pastors at FHM have amplified my experience. They truly inspire me, and I'm humbled by their commitment and service. I would like to make a special mention of Pastor Marian: She is one of the most incredible people I’ve known, and I feel very lucky to have met her.
—MURRAY, Volunteer since 2016
My time at Father’s Heart has been an evolving journey of friendship and belonging. When I came initially, I often did my assigned task, looked for ways to optimize it, and gave everything I could.
However, as we progressed through COVID-19 and many of the challenges associated with operating during this time, my relationship with Father’s Heart changed significantly. The FHM volunteers have become an extended NYC family, providing love, support, and friendship through tough times and some great times. My friendships with people from different walks of life and the insights I’ve gained about the daily struggles many of our guests experience have changed me.
I’ve really enjoyed building relationships with the guests and changing how I engage with them. I have learned so much from our guests and feel incredibly lucky to have found this community.
—CLAIRE, Volunteer since 2018
Becky Kim
Volunteer since 2023
Since becoming a regular volunteer at FHM, I have gained a community and met incredible people that I would not have met otherwise. There truly is so much diversity and different walks of life represented in not only the volunteers at FHM but also the guests. I have become good friends with people 10 years younger and older than I am and from different professions and racial/religious backgrounds. It is truly moving how so many people from different backgrounds are united in the pursuit of greater social justice and compassion for the community we live in.
It’s an incredibly welcoming place where everyone feels like family—both guests and the volunteers. Everyone there is so gracious and kind-hearted. It truly is a blessing to be a part and witness the good work of FHM.
FHM offers a series of programs and services dedicated to meeting the different needs in the city. These programs include its Saturday Hunger Prevention for those experiencing food insecurity, providing after school program/child care through KidZone, and providing continuing education through its GED and ESL classes, along with legal and translation services. FHM is committed to recognizing and honoring the dignity of everyone and seeks to enter into community and deeper relationships with those within its community.
I am constantly challenged and stretched by the work that we do at The Father's Heart and I continue to learn from the guests and fellow volunteers. My life in NYC is far more enriched and meaningful since I started volunteering with The Father's Heart. I am always excited to go and eager to see what God will do next through the good work being done atThe Father's Heart.
Volunteering at FHM has given me more compassion for those around me. We are confronted by the challenges in the city and those in need everyday. But it was only after I began interacting with and directly engaging with the guests at The Father's Heart that I became more compassionate and curious about their stories. Volunteering has also empowered me and made me realize that we all have a part to play in bringing about God's justice and carrying out His love for His people.
Magdala Joseph
Volunteer since 2023
I am fortunate to be a volunteer at The Father’s Heart. I truly believe I’ve found a community of selfless individuals who believe in the power of charity. It is the most organized place I’ve served. The form and function are astounding—the impact speaks for itself. Since being a volunteer here, I’ve become more compassionate.
Being part of this community will change your life.
Omar Burkhardt
Volunteer since 2023
Volunteering at The Father’s Heart Ministries has been gratifying and humbling. It’s a wonderful experience serving our guests and giving them hope and love. Since I’ve been a volunteer here, I believe it has made me more humble.
Melody Wei & Oliver Yeung
Volunteers since 2023
My time volunteering at The Father’s Heart has made me more aware of the different needs that people living in NYC are navigating and those that are going unmet. It has made me more aware of my own assumptions about how people end up where they are in life. It's also been a good learning experience to see how the different parts of the Father’s Heart operation come together weekly to serve our guests. I’d describe it as a ministry program that is meeting people at their most basic needs—it is organized and well-run. I like the hearts of the people who serve here. They are here to purely serve and really get to know people's lives and journeys without any judgment.
—MELODY
I appreciate the desire to treat the guests with honor and culture of matter-of-fact humility. After several months, I decided to do the training to become a supervisor, because I felt that I was comfortable being more committed in service at Father's Heart. I also enjoy talking to the guests in Cantonese, even if it's mostly just "Good morning" and "See you again". Many of the guests don't speak much English and they often smile and chat back a little when they hear their mother tongue.
If I had to describe what we do here, I’d say that it’s primarily a food pantry and soup kitchen. It is also a starting point for guests to become comfortable with FHM generally and make use of the coffee corner (a makeshift cafe FHM calls “Coffee & Prayer” where volunteers sit down with guests and speak with them), social services desk, and pro-bono legal help (through Open Hands Legal Services). Ideally, as our guests come to trust FHM, they participate in other programs like the GED and ESL tutoring. Also, it's a great way for volunteers to become comfortable with serving. FHM gets a lot of new volunteers every Saturday and they are very good at orienting them and guiding them through the day.
Since volunteering at FHM, I've become much more aware of how many low-income elderly folks there are, and how life can be really hard for them.
—OLIVER
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
