By Susan Summers
In the two short years since its incorporation as a 501c3, Greater Vail Community Resources has seen tremendous growth in its operations as a grassroots local organization providing direct services to Vail’s needy residents. In just the five-month period from August through December of 2018, the Vail ReSources Food Bank served 521 different families and 1,872 individuals, which does not include the many Vail School District children who have benefited from the supplemental nutrition weekend “back pack” program. And, as anyone who has shopped or donated recently at Vail Depot Thrift Store knows, the place is packed with merchandise and bustling with activity. With growth comes the need for more volunteers, especially with the prospect of dedicated “snow bird” volunteers leaving Vail for home this spring.
The one thing that ReSources volunteers have in common is that they really enjoy people, whether they be fellow workers, clients or customers. Ev Campbell, a ReSources volunteer since the beginning, spent her professional life in the banking industry, but still prides herself on providing excellent customer service. As a cashier in the Vail Depot Thrift Store, she loves “visiting with our customers and sharing their joy when they find an unexpected treasure at a bargain price. I also enjoy telling them how their purchases help the community and that ReSources is an agency approved for the Arizona state income tax credit.” Nina Rickle, a Vail Depot Thrift Store volunteer for two years, considers her work in creating store displays and tracking sales patterns as “a very creative outlet; but what sets this environment apart is the fact that everyone is so respectful and kind to one another. Being a ReSources volunteer is just a good match for me.”
If you’re looking for a way to “give back” by serving local Vail needs, please consider joining the team of volunteers at ReSources. Fill out the volunteer application online at www.ReSourcesVail.org, or stop in at the ReSources Vail Food Bank or the Vail Depot Thrift Store, located “between the tracks” on Colossal Cave Road.
