Employee Story: Kathy Adkins
Kathy Adkins came to know The Salvation Army of Michigan City as many people do – through volunteering her time.
In 2015, she began helping her local Salvation Army a few hours a week, mostly answering the telephone at the front desk and directing clients to the corps officers and staff.
Now, two years later, that simple act of volunteerism and giving of her time to help others has evolved into something greater. Kathy is now a part-time employee and a member of The Salvation Army Church.
Her presence as the front desk receptionist is crucial to the everyday operation of the Michigan City corps. Over the years, our clients have come to know and love Kathy. She is an excellent liaison between our clients and corps officers.
“This has given me a chance to relate to the clients, and I’ve made a lot of friends,” she said.
She has an important role on pantry day, during special events and, of course, during regular business hours. She can answer just about any question she may get from the general public, and is always eager to help someone in need.
One program that Kathy feels has made a definite impact in the community is the Army’s diaper bank. As part of her job, Kathy distributes diapers to needy families through this program, sometimes exceeding 5,000 diapers per month.
“There are families out there that really need help with diapers,” she said. She loves that fathers also take the time to come in for diapers to help care for their children.
Kathy came to The Salvation Army with a history of working as a nurse’s aide. She loved the personal care that came with that job, but always felt she was meant to do more.
When asked why she chose The Salvation Army, Kathy simply pointed to the scripture written on the wall of the lobby where she works every day and said, “This is our mission statement, Matthew 25:35-36.”
It reads: “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.”
“You’ve got to help your fellow man,” Kathy said. She eventually became a church member, saying she believes so strongly in the mission statement that The Salvation Army adheres to.
But her love for working at The Salvation Army stems primarily from the sense of purpose she feels when she helps someone in need. “I think The Salvation Army makes a difference in the community because they’ve always been here, and of course the community supports The Salvation Army because of their important work here.”
Kathy loves working for The Salvation Army because it allows her to help those who cannot help themselves – something she believes she was called to do.
“I have a soft spot for the children and the elderly because they need the care,” she said. “And that’s what we’re supposed to do – take care of the ones that can’t help themselves.”