December 2020 Volunteer of the Month
Tony Ryan has a long history with Project Host. In fact, he met his wife, former Project Host Executive Director Sally Green, while they were both volunteers for the organization, and he oversaw the construction of the dining hall and Soup Kitchen when he was board chair over two decades ago. 2020 marks 30 years of service for Tony, and we had a chance to talk with him to understand what it is that keeps him coming back.
What motivates you to come and spend your time at Project Host?
Giving back to the community. Volunteering in the Soup Kitchen is an easy way to give back to people who need something. Also, when I first started at the Soup Kitchen, many of the volunteers were the "greatest Generation folks" (those who lived and fought World War II). It was a great pleasure to get to know them and get to spend time with them.
Now I enjoy working with the Thursday group of volunteers. We regulars think the day we work is the best day of the week, but I’m sure I’d like working with the people on other days too.
What's your relationship to our guests?
Even though a lot of times I’m in the kitchen and don’t necessarily interface with the guests, if you feed people for years, you sort of do get to know them, and you realize that a lot of their circumstances arise simply because they didn’t have the good fortune of being born into the life and parents I had.
How has your view of Greenville changed since working at Project Host?
You read in the newspaper about the “other side” of Greenville, but coming to Project Host makes it real and tunes you in more to how lucky some of us are. You come to realize that people are where they are through no fault of their own. Because of coming to the Soup Kitchen, I feel I’m more generous and more aware of what poverty in Greenville looks like.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
If this is being read by people who haven’t volunteered at Project Host, try it out! It’s fun, and you’re giving back at the same time you’re having fun.