Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! To celebrate February, the month of love, we are dedicating a series of blog posts to couples who volunteer together. First in the series is Dick and Carol Anglin, who have been volunteering in our family dining room for more than 15 years!
How did you start volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul?
We wanted to do something as a family and to give back. Our son was 17 years old and he loved it. He invited his friends to come too. Dick and I have continued to volunteer ever since.
It’s a good feeling to know that it’s not actually a lot of work to help people. We enjoy working the salad bar because we can talk to everyone who comes in. Just the other day a lady asked us how we were doing since she hadn’t seen us in a while. I was surprised because so many people come in to volunteer every day and you wouldn’t think that people know if you’re there or not, but they do notice.
Has volunteering together impacted your relationship?
We have our own hobbies and sometimes we are working on different things when we’re at home, but we like that volunteering is something we both enjoy doing. It’s something we look forward to every week.
What is the secret to a long lasting marriage? (Richard and Carol have been married for 43 years!)
Communication, forgiveness and having fun together. Doing something like volunteering together at St. Vincent de Paul not only helps you reach out to others, it helps you enjoy time together.
Tell us about a memorable experience in the family dining room.
Recently a little boy come up to the salad bar and saw a big tray of chicken salad. His eyes widened and said “whoa, that really looks good!” It’s nice to see their smiles and see them relax when they come in. I know they must be struggling. They wouldn’t be there if they weren’t, but even if it’s the only time in the day they can relax, that’s great. The family dining room has a great atmosphere for families. It’s important to see that they’re not alone.
Interested in volunteering with us? Singles or couples, we need your help! Read about volunteer opportunities here or call our volunteer office at (602) 261-6886.
