Karen Bendix, of Dowagiac, is a volunteer and secretary on the board for Dowagiac ACTION Ministries, a collaboration of people of Christian faith which exists to minister to individuals and families of the Dowagiac area. It offers a food pantry and can be reached by phone at (269) 782-0000.

Q: What do you do for ACTION Ministries?

I coordinate the volunteers who work at the registration desk. I am also secretary on the board, so I collect statistics and send them to Feeding America monthly. I’ve been doing it for maybe a year and a half. I am there every Saturday when the pantry is open. I make sure there are always two or three people at the registration desk and to talk to all the people that come in. If somebody needs prayer I pray with them. I just try to help them and if I can’t, I refer them to the people who can.

Q: How did you get involved?

We run a food pantry here and my passion is feeding the hungry. I love helping people. I get that from my faith.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering there?

The people at ACTION. The people that come in to receive the services have sort of formed a family group in themselves. While they are waiting for their food they sit and talk among themselves. It is really neat to watch the interactions of all these people who are in need coming together. The acronym for ACTION is Area Churches Together In One Network. We are just a big church family and that is what Christians do — they help each other.

Q: Why is volunteering so important?

It is giving back. It is just so rewarding to give back to those people. I’ve watched other people in ACTION — they help each other too. Someone might say they need help working on their roof and another person would say, ‘I can help you with that.’ Another one will say they need dishes and someone will say ‘I found these dishes at a rummage sale.’ They just work together.

Q: Do you do other volunteer work?

I do a lot at my church, First United Methodist. I am a lay leader. I help with the worship services and help set up coffee hour after church. I go to meetings and I help coordinate the people that need to help with liturgy services each Sunday.

 

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her as the Volunteer of the Week by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7713, or emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.