June 2021: Volunteer of the Month

Kathy Sakraida

Kathy Sakraida moved to Greenville two years ago and almost immediately began volunteering at Project Host every Wednesday. She also serves as the treasurer of the Rotary Club of Greenville City Center and recently helped Project Host receive a $1,000 grant toward the Soup Kitchen revitalization efforts. We sat down with Kathy to learn a little more about how she learned about Project Host and what has kept her faithfully coming back every week for the past two years.

How did you hear about Project Host?

Through the Rotary Club at my very first meeting, we were giving grants out, and Project Host was receiving a grant, and the president told us all about what your mission was. I was very excited to seek it out and found out it was a block away from where I was living.

What motivates you to spend your time at Project Host?

I’m very driven by community service, because with my work schedule during my career, I was unable to do any type of community service. Now that I’m retired, I feel that I’ve been very fortunate and wanted to give back to the community. Knowing that there’s hunger among the homeless population and the general lack of food access for some people really motivates me. It’s a basic need, and it’s really sad to see the population for whom this is an issue increasing. So my desire is really to be a part of something to help others.

Another thing that draws me to Project Host is that, as an organization, you also are teaching people to fish so that people can have a better life. It’s not just about giving a handout. You’re trying to find ways to be able to meet people where they are and hopefully give them a hand up so that they have a better life.

What is your relationship to our Soup Kitchen guests?

It’s to smile and try to recognize guests. People are embarrassed in their situation, and I try to just be able to put them at ease. I realize mine might be the only smile they see that day, so I think just recognition of them is so important. We could all be one paycheck away from a similar situation, and I don’t take that for granted.

How has volunteering at Project Host changed your view of Greenville?

One of the reasons I moved here was because of how community-oriented Greenville was, but volunteering here has made me realize the depth of the heart of this city and the souls of people wanting to help out in any way they can—how much they care about their community and not just their little area. They are interested in helping people up because they realize that it helps them and the wider community.

What’s your favorite part of volunteering?

Developing relationships with the other volunteers. We have a lot of fun together. And that I’m just told what to do! It’s such a change from my job!