April 22, 2025 • 51 mins
In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, we honor Volunteer Appreciation Month by exploring the vital role volunteers play at TRM. John Roberts, Deputy Director of Community Needs & Services, shares how volunteers impact every department, from food services to guest support. Suzie Paslay reflects on her journey as Volunteer Coordinator, emphasizing the personal and spiritual significance of each volunteer’s service.
With between 70 to 90 volunteer spots available each day, these dedicated individuals are essential to TRM’s daily operations. From preparing meals to supporting guests and staff, volunteers are the hands and hearts behind the mission, making it possible to serve those in need with excellence and compassion. Suzie also highlights the importance of being people-oriented in her role, recognizing each volunteer’s heart and unique contribution—turning what could be a numbers game into a deeply personal ministry.
Tune in for a moving conversation on purpose, service, and the power of showing up with a willing heart.
To learn more about volunteering with TRM, Click Here!
To support TRM, Click Here!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear Heavenly Father.
We thank you, lord, for thisday and your blessings and your
provisions.
God, thank you for this timeand this podcast and, lord, just
for all of our faithfullisteners.
Lord, we pray your blessingover this time and this
conversation and, lord, thatthose would hear it, would be
encouraged and blessed and maybeeven move to action.
Lord, we love you and we praiseyour name.
Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello everybody.
Thank you for joining us forour community, our mission, a
podcast of the Topeka RescueMission.
I'm your host today, barryFeaker, on this Tuesday, april
22nd of 2025.
This is episode number 264.
We've got a lot of things totalk about today on this.
(00:39):
This is National VolunteerMonth and this is National
Volunteer Week in particular, sowe're going to talk to a couple
of folks here in a minute.
National Volunteer Week inparticular, so we're going to
talk to a couple of folks herein a minute.
But we do have with us todayLaManda Cunningham, ceo of
Topeka Rescue Mission, marionCrable, who is Deputy Director
of Supportive Services, johnRoberts, who is Deputy Director
of Community Needs and Services,and Susie Pasley, who is also
our volunteer coordinator.
(00:59):
Good morning, everybody comes upwith these amazing things that
(01:21):
are important about this day,and so it's April 22nd if you're
listening on this day oranother day, but it's April 22nd
of 2025.
And so what do we think aboutwhen we think of the month of
April?
April, what Showers?
Showers, that's right, showers.
What made you think of that?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Because it's on the sheet.
But also April showers bringMay flowers.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh, uh-huh.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
There's a little rhyme.
Well, the rhyme says so.
I know so it must be true.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
It used to really be true at one time I don't know
anymore, with climate change,whatever, but yeah, so April.
We think about April as beingthat shower month yes, and April
22nd was chosen.
Now here's the big questionshower month yes, and April 22nd
was chosen.
Now here's the big question whywas the 22nd, out of all the
other dates in April, chosen tobe recognized as April showers
(02:11):
day?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
LaManda knows.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yes, what is it I know CEO, what is it you know?
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Answer woman, come on , but I don't want to always
answer right, so I just want tobe humble.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
So, is that why you would get a lot of wrong answers
?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
from me so.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
I think John can answer Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
Who's to say I?
Speaker 1 (02:30):
know All right.
Does anybody really know howany of these days are made.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Susie, susie.
One more last chance.
Do you know?
I have no idea.
Hey, you're all right, becausenobody knows where it originated
from.
Originated from, you're allperfectly right.
You answered it in differentways.
Okay, so April showers is onthe 22nd of April because it
rains in April and it wasrecognized, but nobody really
(02:53):
knows why it was picked that day, so probably we don't know.
For the same reason, any ofthese days get picked Right, but
we do know where the next oneoriginated from.
This originated from theCalifornia legislature, declared
official in 2009.
It's National.
What day?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
This really is yours.
It's so appropriate.
Lamanda Crying day no.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Y'all talk about me crying.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
That's pretty much every day for you.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
School bus driver appreciation day.
You're a former principal andteacher.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I thought she'd be all over this.
You don't wake up this morningand go.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
This is that day when I was a principal, I had a
whole calendar of everybody wewere appreciating.
Not anymore, not anymore, but Istill appreciate bus drivers.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I'll tell you what.
They are really important and alot of kids, even when they get
to be older, they go back andtalk about the bus driver and
how important they were.
My father-in-law was a busdriver.
after he retired he was a lettercarrier, and at his funeral
service there were a lot of kidsthat showed up as adults that
remembered him as being that busdriver, sure, and so not only
did he get them there and backobviously they become adults but
(04:03):
he was kind to them and youknow, and sometimes bus drivers
aren't so kind, sit down now.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
They have a big responsibility.
They do A lot of little lives Iam thankful for.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
You know we have Kansas central that serve as the
school bus for a lot of ourkiddos who are here at the Hope
Center, and so I do want to givethem a shout out.
You know this is kind of theirown route, right, in addition to
everything else that they do.
But for the past 30 to 45 dayswe've also had a lot of
(04:38):
construction on Curtis and nextto it, you know, south of the
shelters.
And so Kelly with KansasCentral is wonderful to work
with.
I worked with her when I was aprincipal.
She was at 501 and now she's atKansas Central.
But she messages me if theirtimes are going to deviate or
anything and then I'm able toshare that with shelter staff
(05:00):
and I just appreciate thepartnership.
But even yesterday I wasfollowing the bus and I thought
they have to kind of make theirown route down here once they
get down here.
So a big thank you to them forsure.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Pulling up in front of the Hope Center for kids to
get on the bus and go to schoolis kind of a big deal it is.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
It's kind of like party time it is.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
They get to go to school, and then they bring them
back home.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Yes, yeah, so it never stops and it's kind of
something normal.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yes, exactly In the midst of everything that's not
so normal.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yes, our kiddos.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yep, well, god bless the school bus drivers on this
National Appreciation Day.
All right, the next one.
Everybody always wakes up onApril 22nd and knows about this
particular day because it isnational.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Well, national.
Well, come on, miriam, I'mreally wondering did you bring
me any?
I know jelly beans, I actuallylike jelly beans, I know, but I
never have them.
Because you like them too much,because I eat them, exactly I
can have chocolate in my officeall day, because I don't like
that, but no, jelly beans can'tbe there.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
It's National Jelly Bean Day, y'all, so run out and
get your jelly beans, or goahead and use the ones that you
didn't use at Easter.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah.
So who was the president wholoved jelly beans?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I think that might have been Abe.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
No, no, no.
Someone more recent?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Who was the president recently?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Bless your heart.
I know.
No, ronald Reagan loved jellybeans, so they always had to
have jelly beans in the WhiteHouse for him.
Really, y'all didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I don't like jelly beans.
Yeah, I don't either actuallySorry.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I like school bus drivers and April showers, but
not jelly beans.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
So anyway, whatever, no wonder I don't have them.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
So anyway, the reason I said Abe, because they
apparently were around duringthe Civil War Jelly beans were
Really yeah.
So I figured Abe, you knowwe're going to fight, we're
going to have jelly beans Right,something sweet to.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Need a treat with that, or maybe it's the other
guys Need a treat with the war.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Maybe it's the other guys in the South that did that,
I don't know Maybe.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
So those are the special 22nd that we wanted to
bring to your attention today,which are very important, but
there's one particular thingthat trumps all other April 22nd
, miriam.
What would that be?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
You know, this is a really, really special day that
we should all be celebratingWell or giving condolences, so
one way or the other, becauseyou know, I do believe that our
beloved CEO has been here for abit now, I think, like she's
been the CEO now for three yearsand she's been here at TRM
(07:37):
almost four years.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And it has been a journey.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
for her, it has had enough.
Let's see how do I refer tothem.
Let's call them challenges tofill a lifetime, to absolutely
fill a lifetime, and she hasjust come through in flying
colors, while flying around.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
So, lamanda Broyles excuse me, cunningham you have
been here three years as CEO, asof today.
Did you realize when you tookthe reins about 2 o'clock in the
afternoon three years ago thatit would be this much fun?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
No, I did not, but it has been.
You know, I tell everybody, thepast three years I have been
learning how to be a CEO andyou've been learning how not to
be.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
And how am?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
I doing.
You're doing good, barry.
You have done great.
You have done Um, and I'mthankful for that, you know.
I I think that it's worthy tostill be talking about and
discussing, because I don't takefor granted just the overall
transition.
I mean just how supportive staffwas on that day to make it such
(08:58):
a special welcoming of me andacknowledging your devotion, and
that took a lot of work and I'mthankful for that.
I'm thankful for communitymembers by far that just kind of
welcomed me into this, and I'vemade a lot of wonderful
partnerships but really strongfriendships, so I'm thankful for
(09:21):
that.
I'm thankful that I still haveyou as a mentor, you know,
because, although I will say thelast, like what 12 things I've
come to you with, you've beenlike, yeah, a kid, I don't know,
I didn't go through that, um,but I do appreciate you.
At least sit in it with me,right, um, as we figure it out.
But lots of gratitude, uh, forI'm not even sure I understood
(09:45):
three years ago the magnitude ofthe position, and that's
probably God's mercy, becauseI'm not sure I wasn't ready for
it then you had to close yourears and I'm not going, that's
right, and so I'm thankful forthat.
But I do think that one thingthat I definitely don't take for
granted is just everybody'skindness with it, but then also
(10:09):
understanding that each yearthat passes there's a different
depth to it that I take, that Idon't take lightly, and then I'm
very, very humbled that Godwould look at all of my
imperfections and say, yep,you're who I want, there, with
that team serving alongside them.
So it's had a lot of difficultyas well and, honestly, you know,
(10:34):
two things I hope that I'vedone well.
One I hope that I have somehowtruly been a witness for who
Christ is and who he isn't.
The second piece is I hope that, as a leader, I have talked
about the vulnerabilities justas much as I've talked about the
(10:58):
successes, because I feel likethat's something that is hurting
in our community, and maybe notjust our own, where there's
pressures on leaders to have allthe answers, to know what to do
.
You reach a certain level andyou're there, and I just don't
think that's reallysanctification and I don't think
(11:19):
that's really God's expectationof us, and so I hope that I've
been a witness for him.
But I also hope that I havetalked about the challenges, the
struggles, all of thattransparently, to hopefully help
other leaders realize that westill have a dependence on him.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I think you've done very well and congratulations on
three years in this position.
I think when I think about youbeing in this position three
years and I was before you andpeople were before me because
70-plus years at Topeka RescueMission I always so think about
all the supporters, all thepeople who have financially
contributed, materiallycontributed and volunteered.
(12:02):
That's what we're talking abouttoday is this takes a big, big
team, not just the staff but awhole community that's coming
together and the position ofwhat we call CEO now is the one
that casts the vision for thatlistens to what's going on out
there, works with the team, getsgreat people in, like you have
in your deputy directors andSusie here today, to be able to
(12:23):
take it forward.
And so it's very complex what'shappening in our country today.
What's happening in ourcommunity?
Maybe more complex than it hasbeen in regards to the homeless
issue in our lifetimes, and soit takes a leader and somebody
who God chose we know that foryou to step in and you haven't
(12:45):
heard him tell you to quit.
And so thanks for not quitting.
We need you to be in the seatthat you're in, and so thank you
for leading well.
So that's April 22nd.
Remember that everybody.
And yeah, I saw our NARAD onthe 22nd myself in kind of a
cool ceremony that we had, andit was a blessing.
So I'm glad to still be a partof TRM.
(13:07):
So let's talk.
Well, merrim, you have anupdate, and then we want to talk
about volunteers.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Oh, I think you should just go straight to
volunteers.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Oh, let's go straight to volunteers.
So, john, susie, you guys arein this volunteer space,
especially you, susie.
John is a deputy director.
You have some other departments, so let's start with you, john.
You all are for distributionservices and food services, and
volunteers too, and housing, andhousing.
(13:35):
Okay, wow, anything else, and,and, and Anything else.
Or are you just going to tellus later today?
Right, it changes often, sotalk about from your lens.
You have Susie over here, whichwe're going to hear from in a
second because she coordinatesall this, but what do you see
with food services, housingservices, the distribution
services, everything that we'redoing here, what's the
(13:57):
importance to volunteers fromyour lens?
Speaker 6 (14:00):
That's a great question, and it is something
that we cannot do withoutvolunteers.
There is so much work that getsdone in all of those
departments, especially justthinking of with food service.
In particular, we're servingthree meals a day to all of our
(14:21):
shelter guests, plus a mealoutside.
That's a lot of food that needsto get cooked.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Plus, providing food for the Mobile Access
Partnership.
Absolutely, and it goes backoutdoors as well and to
different locations around.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
Yeah, a lot of food and then other events and
opportunities that we can blessvulnerable community members
with food that pop up, and sothat is a lot of food that needs
to be cooked every day, needsto be prepared.
There's prep that goes in, itneeds to be served, spaces need
to get cleaned up and we justhave such a really a force of
(14:55):
people who come in andfaithfully serve different
businesses, who free up theiremployees time to come down and
serve church businesses, whofree up their employees' time to
come down and serve churchgroups, who are faithful and
that's part of the outreach thatthey do.
Families bringing their kidsand using it as an opportunity
to help instill values of givingback and of service in their
(15:15):
kids, and just individualscoming and every single day we
just have teams of volunteers inthere, face-to-face with our
guests, with our communitymembers, with a smile on their
face as they help.
And that's just one departmentand really in all of our areas
then that same thing ishappening, so they're really
(15:38):
part of the workforce.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Absolutely Takes a lot of organization.
On that, though, it's not justa somebody walks in off the
street and says, hey, I want tohelp, and then you plug them in
because there's a need tocoordinate that, to make sure we
got enough volunteers in onearea Not too many, not too few,
if we can.
Also, some training goes intothat.
You've got a lot of things onyour plate.
What's the value of havingSusie as coordinating all that
(16:02):
and talk about Susie, and thenwe're going to talk to Susie.
Speaker 6 (16:07):
Susie is wonderful.
It is really a Herculean taskbecause there are so many
different opportunities thatpeople need that people need,
and different departments notonly have different tasks that
(16:28):
they might need help forvolunteers to come and help
serve with, but also justdifferent types of volunteers.
Some of just some of all of thedifferent coordination that
Susie does is a great job ofbalancing, getting the right
people into the right spot andmaking sure that it's going to
be something that they will findvalue and have success in, so
(16:51):
that it's a meaningfulexperience not for the people
receiving the service but for avaluable experience for the
people providing the service.
And I think she does that bygetting to know the volunteers.
So each and every volunteerthat comes through, susie takes
time to get to know them, tolearn about them, to give them
(17:13):
some orientation, some training,to get their skills and
interests and so that she canpinpoint.
I think I have an opportunitythat would sound fun to you.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
That would be Sounds like time to ask for a raise.
Susie, that's a good promo.
You do know Susie wasn't hereor doing the job she's doing.
You get to do it too.
You know that, right.
Sorry my eyes.
Susie, you've been on thepodcast before.
We've talked about volunteersand so kind of refresh us how
(17:39):
many volunteers, roughly, do wehave on the list that you could
get a hold of that?
Either regular and or on-calltype folks.
What's your list?
Speaker 5 (17:50):
We are at about 900 right now a little over 900.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
That's cool 900 people who've identified as they
want to help.
Speaker 5 (17:58):
It is, and like on a Tuesday or Thursday, when we
have MAP going on and the fooddistribution, we have 90, if
every spot is filled, we have 90volunteers on site here, which
is more than the number ofemployees that we have here more
than our staff and on any givenMonday, Wednesday, Friday, we
have close to 70.
(18:18):
So that's a lot of people in aweek, that's a lot of people
here.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Miriam, you've calculated these numbers before
about that financial value backto TRM.
If we had to hire all thosepeople, because you really have
to have those jobs doneVolunteers aren't extra, they're
part of the workforce.
What do you recall?
I'm putting you on the spothere.
Do you recall generally whatthat number figure?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
is.
It's about seven full-timevolunteers.
I mean seven full-time staffthat it would take to replace
all of the volunteers that areassisting us regularly, and that
kind of doesn't even count.
Different kinds of things, likewhen we do special projects.
You know Christmas is a bigdeal, but I mean you heard what
Susie just talked about in termsof just what we need in a week.
(19:02):
That's a lot of assistance$150,000 roughly or more.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Oh yeah, last month alone we had.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
When you look at the volunteers, we had over 21,000
volunteer hours.
So then when you look at thatand you put it to a dollar
amount, we're looking at like$685,000.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Okay over half a million dollars that volunteers
help this, and that's thevolunteers on your list.
That doesn't include thevolunteers out collecting food
through their church group whichthen that dollar amount.
So it's like multiple millionsof dollars benefit from
donations of time or efforts inaddition to cash.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
So it just takes that .
I think people need to knowthat it's not just about writing
a check.
Checks are extremely important,giving is extremely important,
but there's not enough in anorganization like this to be
able to do that without this too.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Well, and Barry, the other thing too is it doesn't
always require that people be onsite, like I think about our
prayer volunteers that pray forour requests, that come in to us
from donors or staff orwhatever.
We have all of these differentkinds of opportunities that meet
different people's needs orabilities.
Right, because not everybodycan come out and work at MAP.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I want to go back to Susie, but you just brought up
something.
There are volunteers who prayfor people who send prayer
requests.
Talk about that for a moment.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Well, to me that's a really special, special thing,
because we do have volunteersthat have been volunteering or
care about the mission a lot,but they're just not in a
position where they can stillcome here and do some things,
but they can be in their homeand pray for us.
So they get lists from us everyweek in terms of people that
(20:48):
have requested prayer from us,that are our donors, and we then
forward those to people, andthen we have a volunteer that
writes notes saying, hey, weprayed for you for this, so that
people know that we prayed forthem.
And so it's just this wonderfulway for people to be supportive
of the work that we do and thepeople that support us.
(21:10):
So not just about us, not justabout those we serve, but even
the donors that so deeply careabout what we do.
They also have things going onin their lives that they need
prayer for and they trust uswith that information to be able
to then lift up their needs tothe Lord as well.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
So there's sometimes people say I'm going to pray for
you, Don't mean it.
It's just a phrase, but thismeans it, this really means it.
Actually, when somebody says Ihave a prayer need, like my
husband has cancer, or we lost ajob, or we need this or that or
the other thing and would youplease pray for us, it actually
gets done.
Yeah, so there's volunteersthat do that.
So, suzy, 900 on your list Allkinds of different walks and
(21:56):
sizes and trying to help thensupplement the ongoing work with
TRM.
How long have you been doingthis now?
Speaker 5 (22:06):
It was two years in March, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
And just so you know, her contract she signed was
until 2099.
I may not be on planet Earth bythen, and the only exception is
if Jesus comes back before then, through technology, we expect
you to do it from whereveryou're remotely at that's right.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
Remote in heaven?
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Susie, I've worked there's been some great
volunteer coordinators over theyears at Topeka Rescue Mission.
I tell you you were really anall-star there at the top.
And I hear that not just fromstaff, but I hear it from
volunteers as well.
And so two years ago, when youstepped into this position, I
know you were familiar withTopeka Rescue Mission, familiar
through your pastor being one,clark Johnson, who was a board
(22:50):
member here, who had passed awaybefore you came on board here,
and different experiences withTRM.
But what's changed in these twoyears, from your perspective,
as I'm the new kid on the blockdoing this job to a veteran of
two years now?
Speaker 5 (23:09):
I feel like I understand better all of the
things that happen here atTerium.
And that is one of the thingsthat I so enjoy when I do the
volunteer orientations, becauseI have the opportunity to
educate, which is a field that Iwas in previously education but
I have that opportunity to openpeople's eyes and to realize so
(23:31):
many things that are going onhere that are helping people.
We're not just, you know, as alot of times we're referred to
as maybe just a bed and a meal,and there's so much more here,
that and how we walk with ourguests and our folks as they
move on into their own housingand into their own jobs, and how
(23:52):
we help them to not only justbecome stable but be able to
have success and move forward.
And that's what the volunteerslove.
That's why they love to be apart of TRM is because they see
that we do serve a lot of mealsI think it's over 1,000 meals a
day but we also come along andwe nurture and care for them as
(24:19):
far as the journey that they'retaking from where they have been
to just those steps forward.
And oftentimes the volunteerswill ask the question I think
this is common how long do youlet them stay?
Well, as they are movingforward and that can be a
different pace for each one ofus and for them, it's just
(24:40):
whatever they need to keepmoving forward.
And that is the beauty of TRM,and I think I feel like all of
my life God has been preparingme for this season of my life to
be here and to be a part, tojust watch it is beautiful.
(25:01):
To be a part of it is just soincredibly fulfilling and a
blessing in the depths of yoursoul.
That's different than otherthings that you can do.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
You may have already answered my next question, but
what's your most enjoyable thingabout what you do?
Speaker 5 (25:23):
Wow, there's a lot of things.
It's hard when you say one ortwo.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
We're on a limited time here, so you know, I love
the volunteers.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
I love seeing their hearts come in and be open to
how can they help and what canthey do, and seeing that change
in their own lives.
And then, when I take newvolunteers on the tours, to see
them say, oh this is, you'regoing to love this, you're going
to love this.
(25:57):
Walking into our shelters andgetting to see our guests that
I've come to know from beinghere and having them stop and
talk to me and tell me what'sgoing on with them or you know,
um, just that comfort that theyfeel, just being together with
me, and I love.
I love that privilege too.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
So it really takes that people oriented person
which you are.
Uh, amanda, a lot of movingparts, a lot of different people
doing different positions umfront lines, midline, backline.
Susie is in all of thosepositions.
Yes, so um as CEO talk aboutthe importance of a people
(26:39):
oriented volunteer coordinator.
Speaker 4 (26:41):
Yeah, you know, I was thinking about Susie last night
and Because I think we've alldescribed her as like any, any
type of positive adjectivethat's out, there is Susie Right
From just the kindness, thetenderness, the good listener,
friend, all of that, and so Iwas kind of like but that it
(27:04):
still doesn't sum her up like.
She's just so different.
And the thing that I came towas the phrase that we often say
quality over quantity.
That's Susie.
So Susie's position could bevery quantitative, it could be
numbers based.
She knows how many spots sheneeds to fill, she knows how
(27:26):
many volunteers she has, sheknows when schedules change, she
knows when we're doingalternative food schedules, all
of these things.
Like she's involved in thenumbers piece of TRM, which is
very important, right, we've gotto know what we need and we've
got to know what meets the need,know what meets the need.
(27:58):
And it could be very easy forSusie to fill spots, Like we've
got four that we need right nowin this area and I'm going to
put four people there, butthat's just not Susie.
Susie has been able andhonestly, other than and I know
it sounds cliche, but just thegifting from the Lord, it's the
only way I know how she can doit, Because she takes these
numbers and these needs and thenunderstanding.
(28:20):
The next layer is what do thosenumbers represent?
Well, it's not just standing ina food line to serve, she
understands.
And when you're standing in afood line to serve, we want you
to smile, we want you tointeract, we want you to do this
.
Yes, you have to have gloves.
Like she gets it.
She probably could be thebalance between a volunteer
coordinator and an operationsdirector.
(28:42):
Like she has to know thedetails, and so I appreciate
that she has the skill sets tounderstand the quantity piece
and why it's so valuable,Because if those spots aren't
filled, work is not done.
I mean, it's really that plain,but yet she does it with
quality, and what I mean by thatis kind of how John touched on
(29:05):
earlier.
She wants to be as personal asshe can with the departments to
truly know the need.
She also wants to be aspersonal as she can with the
departments to truly know theneed.
She also wants to be aspersonal as she can with the
volunteers so that it's aquality, even if that person
doesn't understand it.
(29:33):
She understands that it is a Godoccurrence and I think that
when we peel back all of justthe amazing layers to Susie and
there's lots the fruit of it isshe understands everything she
does is for the Lord and shealso understands that everything
she's working with that sheprobably truly is putting the
(29:55):
puzzle pieces together of divineintervention and I love that.
She values that.
That that's not something thatI can instill.
We can teach organization, wecan teach email etiquette.
We can do all of that.
But to know to embed in someoneyou are doing the Lord's work on
(30:19):
so many different levels andyou have no idea why God has
that individual person in the DCcar line.
But God knows it and she lovesthe Lord so much that she's just
obedient and to me it is trulyinvaluable what she does.
And to try to put that in wordsis somewhat difficult, other
(30:43):
than saying she understands herassignment from the Lord.
Everything she does is for himand somehow she's able to do it
with a love of people that cometo us different backgrounds,
different personalities,different needs.
We have some people who wouldbe here seven days a week if
they could.
We have some people that say Ionly want one hour and I'm not
going to be a minute late, andshe just handles them with love
(31:06):
and care, and to me it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
And you know, I think the thing that we also need to
recognize here is Susie is veryoften the first contact that
people have with TRM.
You know emails.
I monitor the general TRM emailaddress and we get emails like
the one that I recently receivedfrom a company that says look,
we want to be a part of thecommunity, do you want to
(31:31):
partner with us?
I'm not going to do anythingwith this email except forward
it to Susie right, so she willbe the first contact that this
person has whose title happensto be people in culture, senior
manager, right?
So it's about how can being atTRM and helping TRM build our
culture in our business?
(31:51):
So the reasons people come hereare different, but Susie will
be the first contact that thisperson has with us.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Well, susie, if you stop breathing by now, all this
reflection of this big job thatyou have.
I do hear that they're lookingfor traffic controllers at
O'Hare Airport.
If you are looking for adifferent job.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
It sounds like you're kind of like that.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
You've got incoming outgoing, you have landings,
takeoffs, those kind of things.
Susie, this is how your teamsees you.
This is how leadership sees youhere, and then I'd also said,
this is how the people who arevolunteering see you, which then
translates into that greatervalue that LaManda was talking
about in regards to what God isdoing in all of this.
(32:35):
So it's a big job.
I want to talk about a littlebit of the nuts and bolts here
in a minute, but before we dothat, we talked about what you
enjoy the most.
What's the most challengingpart of this?
Speaker 3 (32:54):
If we haven't already said that with everything that
you're having to do here, orgetting to do what's the most
challenging thing personally toyou and we know it's.
John is your supervisor andwe're sorry about that, susie.
Speaker 6 (32:59):
We're sorry, can't fix that one.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
That's right, but we've tried.
I actually like John.
And we keep trying, he's greattoo.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
It's great too.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
I'm good.
Most challenging Probably the24-hour shifts on the warming
center.
To be honest, those overnightthose are challenging.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
What was challenging about that?
What isn't?
Speaker 3 (33:25):
I was going to say, people volunteers.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Getting enough of them, because we're 24-7.
It's a crisis, emergencysituation.
There really is not a lot oftime to equip and train.
I mean all those things.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
Well, you know, the community of Topeka is amazing
and so many folks that volunteerwith the heart to be there to
come.
I mean, we even had regularvolunteers during the warming
center that would come multipledays to serve, but that
overnight, that 24-7, especiallyas you go out the longer
distance, more than just acouple of days.
(33:59):
It's tough because folks aretrying to figure out how to get
out of their houses or how towork and help others.
It's not that they don't havethe heart, they have the heart
to want to help, but that's justreally challenging, especially
as the week goes on.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
How do you deal with the?
Okay, I've got thisresponsibility of finding these
people to fill these positionsand there are some that are the
ongoing.
We need to have this done atthis time.
We do it every day like this.
Then there's those unusualtimes.
We plan for a Topeka rescuemission and, through the
community, we plan for now whatwe call extreme weather events.
(34:37):
We just don't know when they'regoing to happen and how long
they're going to happen.
So you plan for something youknow is probably going to come,
but it may not come.
But when it comes, you weren'tsure when it was going to come
and how long it's going to lastwhen it comes, and on and on.
Exactly, do you?
How do you handle the stress ofthat when they're saying, susie
(34:58):
, we need somebody for the fourhour shift, starting at one
o'clock in the morning at awarming center, with people
coming off the streets and maybethey've never done that before?
How do you handle that stress?
Speaker 5 (35:04):
One of the biggest things I've learned in my life
is that God is the provider ofall things, and so there are
times, even during the week, ifI'm short volunteers in a
particular spot and I know thatthey need at least another
person or two, I just stop andpray and then I trust that, if
(35:28):
God provides for, and then Itrust that if God provides for,
that's what we needed.
Those are the people that weneeded for the opportunity that
we are providing volunteers for,and I trust, and then, you know
, sometimes I still go really.
Lord, was that enough?
And I pray, help it to beenough, help it to come together
(35:50):
.
And I pray, help it to beenough, help it to come together
.
However, lord, you know and youforesaw that it would all work
well and that the experience foreveryone involved would be a
blessing and encouragement, in away that it draws them closer
to you.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
So, susie, people oftentimes talk about prayer.
They talk about that.
It's important.
This is like serious prayer foryou, because we're talking
about serious lives at stake.
Have you seen God come throughin ways that you didn't think it
was going to happen?
You've got a big smile on yourface right now.
Talk about that, and what doesthat say to you?
Speaker 5 (36:28):
Absolutely.
Oh my, it's so beautiful towatch.
You know, somebody will send mea text or they'll send me an
email or they'll give me a calland they'll be like, hey, I can
come, I can help.
And I especially love it when Ihaven't even sent the request
out to everyone, I think it'sreally cool to just see God pop
(36:50):
that in their thoughts to moveforward, and then they reach out
to me.
So I think that's why I see therelationship as very important
to this role, because I wantpeople to know that they can
reach out to me at any time,because I'm just the connection
for the Father.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Do you find that there are volunteers that come
in who maybe have a differentlevel of spiritual understanding
by being involved in TopekaRescue Mission maybe an
enrichment in regards to thereality of Christ and being a
part of this Do you get any kindof feedback in that regard?
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Yes, yes, being a part of this, do you get any
kind of feedback in that regard?
Yes, yes, a lot of times I'vehad volunteers serve with the
drive up food distribution andjust the beauty of being the
person who picks up the bag offood and puts it out there and
offers a smile or a hello tothat person that's picking up
food that needs it.
Just, you know, I've heard themmake reference to it's like
(37:53):
offering a cup of cold water,you know to someone who's
thirsty and you can tell that itspoke very deeply to their soul
, that they can see they're thatconduit for the Father to give
food to that person.
So, yeah, there's a lot oftimes to give food to that
(38:14):
person.
So, yeah, there's a lot oftimes.
And, too, just the volunteershave also commented on the
blessing of the staff to them,just how they feel that the
staff really cares about themand cares about those that we
work with.
They can see it in staff aswell as each other.
So, yeah, very definitely.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
So there's opportunities for the volunteer
to even grow spiritually, beinga part of this, because
sometimes we hear about what theWord says to do.
We've studied it, gone tochurch faithfully.
Whatever the case might be ormaybe we're new to it this is a
place where rubber meets theroad in regards to a need and
then being able to fill thatneed.
John, being over food servicesin your time here, you've seen
(38:58):
some of those needs metmiraculously with food coming in
.
What does that do to you andspeak to you and your team?
Speaker 6 (39:05):
It's definitely encouraging when those things
happen, right when moments ofpanic or anxiety of how are we
going to make this work, andexactly what you need, comes at
exactly the right time andsometimes, especially with
volunteers, exactly the rightperson shows up.
And it's also it's always funnywhen someone shows up and
(39:26):
they're just here to do one taskand then you get to know them
and maybe they have a funnystory of how they ended up
hearing about the opportunity.
And then they tell you abouttheir experience and their skill
set and their heart and theyhave.
And all of a sudden you're like, oh my gosh, this is perfect
for this opportunity that wehave here.
(39:47):
And just seeing how people Godleads people through a door to
maybe start by, you know, wipingdown tables after lunch, or
maybe it's helping collapseboxes after a food distribution
and that's maybe their ticket inthe door and then just seeing
God pull on their heartstringsand that exactly the right
(40:08):
person shows up with exactly theright skill set to then come in
and make a big impact for Godand for our community here that
we're serving at TRM, and sothose are always just it's
moments like that that keep yougoing.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
So God answers prayer all the time, because we have
to have God answer prayer allthe time and sometimes the
volunteer is the answer to theprayer and I would imagine,
susie, that when a person gets aclue, wow, you prayed and I
showed up.
I just felt like I was supposedto pick up that phone and call
you or go online.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
I tell them you are an answer to prayer and I mean
it.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Who doesn't want to hear that in their life right?
Speaker 3 (40:49):
Yeah, and you know, barry, though I think it's
important that the people thatare listening realize, too, not
everyone is coming here becausethey feel like the Lord has
called them.
That's true.
It may not be that that is wherethey are on their journey yet,
and I think that, then, is whatgives us whether it's Susie or
(41:09):
all of our staff the opportunityto be a reflection of Christ
for them.
So they may have had church hurt, they may have not ever really
known what a relationship withthe Lord looks like, or not even
known that it's what they want,but they know that they want to
help people and they know wehelp people, and so the
(41:32):
opportunity that our teams haveto then be a witness in a very
tangible kind of way, to why wedo what we do, why we are called
to do this, can often changetheir lives in ways that we
maybe can't even imagine,because it isn't a requirement
(41:53):
that you know the Lord to comebe here right, we need your
heart to be willing to serve.
But it gives a different kindof opportunity for how we get to
witness, not just to those thatcome to us because they're
experiencing homelessness orbecause they need food, but
people who may just be hungeringfor something more that they
(42:14):
don't even know what it isthey're hungering for.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
And there's an opportunity wherever they are.
Susie, let's get into the nutsand bolts just very briefly.
So what is the requirement fora volunteer?
How does somebody find outabout where they can volunteer
and how do they get connectedwith you?
Speaker 5 (42:27):
So we have a great location on our website.
Trm onlineorg has a volunteertab, and if you click on that
tab, you can look at what aresome of the opportunities.
You can sign up and open anaccount with us to start, and
you can also see what are theexpectations for volunteers, and
(42:48):
so that's a great spot to justgo ahead and sign up in there
and then I'm notified when yousign up and that gives me an
opportunity to reach out to youand invite you to our
orientations that we have.
We have those one in theafternoon and one in the evening
every month, and so that's thestart and then people need to
come through the orientation.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
What's the value of that?
Speaker 5 (43:11):
That is a fun time Everybody loves it honestly
because we tour buildings so youget to see our shelters, our
dining room, our distributioncenter and our children's palace
.
And then they get to learnabout all of the inner workings,
of all the programs andopportunities that we have here
(43:32):
for our guests, so they get tosee how it all fits together.
I love it when they say I hadno idea.
And I just smile because I'mlike yeah, and then we can talk
about what they're interested in.
Usually people come withsomething that sparked their
interest and that helps to giveme a starting spot, and then we
(43:56):
can see you know what skills.
If they don't know where tostart, you know what their
skills are and looking foropportunities.
So, yeah, that's the startingspot.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
So how long is that orientation?
Speaker 5 (44:09):
The orientation is two hours and I've had people
say two hours, but when you tourbuildings and you're hopping
around, it just takes a littlebit of that travel, kind of like
going to Disneyland, not goingto Disneyland.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
One hour Travel time.
So well, this is NationalVolunteer Month, national
Volunteer Week.
Anything special going on thisweek with the volunteers?
Speaker 5 (44:28):
Yeah, this year we're doing some department
celebrations, so a little bit ofa different instead of
everybody all coming together inlarge scope.
So it's really been fun.
We've had a couple of themalready and the volunteers have
really appreciated theopportunity to get to know the
staff and those departmentsbetter, and staff that they
haven't met before, as well aseach other.
(44:49):
So it's been fun hearing theirstories about how they came here
, how long they've been here,what they've been doing, but
also they've commented on howmuch they've enjoyed that chance
to get to know our staff inthat specific area as well.
So we're doing that and then wehave some fun thank you videos
coming out to volunteers too andthank you notes.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
So just a lot of different little things going on
, A lot of organization there.
So, as we wrap this up again,thank you, Susie John, thank you
for what you guys do in thisarena.
Mary Lamanda, thank you forjust the leadership.
Congratulations again.
Three years now as CEO.
How many more do you have tocatch up?
Speaker 4 (45:32):
I know what 34?
Because I got to go past you.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Well see, but I'm still hanging around TRM, and so
yesterday was actually my 39thday.
Speaker 4 (45:40):
I don't know if I'm ever going to catch up.
Speaker 2 (45:41):
I don't think you're going to catch up until you get
me out of here, so anyway, letme add this one more group of
volunteers, I know you will wantto mention that you work really
closely with.
All volunteers are equal inimportance.
They all have different roles,but one has a unique role.
What is that?
Speaker 4 (45:55):
Yes, that is the Topeka Rescue Mission Board of
Directors and despite some ofthe rumors out there you know I
do have to giggle sometimes,barry, but I have been told that
our board of directors make alot of money yeah.
I've heard that too, and aregiven vehicles and all sorts of
(46:16):
stuff.
And our volunteers, that areour board of directors, their
wages right, their pay is goingto come in heaven and extra
jewels in the crowd.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
It started out zero and zero.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
Yes, so it's zero and zero, zero.
So our board of directors,though, on a serious note, they
are completely volunteers andsometimes I think that we forget
that a little bit because theyhave such an important
leadership stewardship of thisministry, but they are doing
that on their own time.
(46:50):
I mean, many of them have theirown professions or are retired
and very well involved in otherareas, and so I appreciate them,
I appreciate their love for theLord and how they walk their
own journey, and all of themtalk about their testimony right
(47:11):
, and what links all of themtogether is they are all driven
to help lead others to Christperiod, and it's because of how
they've recognized that they'vebeen drawn to Christ and what a
difference and a transformationthat is in their lives.
And so it truly.
I can say this with nohesitation it is a blessing to
(47:35):
have that board, and I tell themthat all the time.
That does not mean we're alwaysunanimous in our votes and it
doesn't mean we always seethings at the same timing, you
know.
And it's all this beautifulpackage, but what is amazing is
when we're having crucialconversations or we're trying to
(47:55):
figure out the Lord's wheelwe're trying to look at is this
the timing for this.
Is it not the timing for that?
There is so much respect anddignity and really just
reverence for the Lord and alsotrying to find this balance of.
They're responsible for action,though, and so to me.
(48:19):
You know I've served on otherboards, I've been parts of other
boards.
I hear stories of other boards,and I can truly say that I am
thankful for ours, and we'rekind of in this season of
transition.
The board is evaluating whatmore should they be doing.
They're looking at what'scoming next for TRM.
(48:39):
They're looking at how betterto support me as the CEO, but
not micromanage, and I just lovethat.
I love and respect our boardpresident, john Austinson.
Um, you know, I think we've hadincredible board presidents in
the past, uh, that I have a lotof respect for, but there's
(49:00):
something different about Johnand and he's really bringing
this balance of spiritualmaturity and and accountability
with also walking the walk andtalking the talk, and so I'm
thankful for each and every oneof them.
They bring their own talents.
You know, I tease Mike Reinhardta lot, because he's our
(49:21):
treasure, and I tell him all thetime like if it wasn't for you,
I would just go cross-eyed atall the stuff that you and
Miriam have to do with thebudgets and the financials, and
I could just go down the list ofevery board member and how they
use their specific giftings andtalents that God's given them.
And the cool thing too is it'salmost like every quarter.
(49:45):
I find out something that aboard member's doing that I had
no idea out, something that aboard member's doing that I had
no idea.
And so I also look at our boardas I see what they do every
month and I see the textmessages, because there's
several exchanged in betweenmeetings.
There's emails that go back andforth.
I give them a CEO report once amonth.
There's all of this.
So we're very involved andwe're very engaged.
(50:10):
But there's still so much thatthey do either individually in
the area of homelessness or forTRM, preventative measures,
those kinds of things that theyjust kind of are silent heroes
too.
They just do it in theirprivate lives.
That bless a lot of people andthat's just neat.
Just when you think you get toknow them, then you find out
(50:32):
this other great quality aboutthem.
So I'm thankful.
I'm thankful to get to servealongside them and, despite
what's out there, they arevolunteers.
They are not paid employees.
That's right.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Volunteers are usually not paid, that's right.
Well, we've heard a lot aboutvolunteers today and you may be
one, and we are so grateful toyou who are listening, and you
may be wondering if maybe yeah,I want to do that Maybe it's at
a level of serving food, or itmight be in street outreach,
maybe a mobile accesspartnership, it could be
(51:04):
distribution, shelters, the listgoes on and on, and maybe even
a future board member withTopeka Rescue Mission.
And so Susie's your gal.
You can go to trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg, and go tothe volunteer section and thank
you for volunteering to listento our community, our mission.
I know there's many of you outthere who do this faithfully,
(51:25):
whether you're washing thedishes or you're driving your
car or you're just chilling out.
Thank you for being a part ofthis, because when you spread
the word about Topeka RescueMission, you are indeed a
volunteer we need.
Thank you.
Dear Heavenly Father.
We thank you, lord, for thisday and your blessings and your
provisions.
God, thank you for this timeand this podcast and, lord, just
for all of our faithfullisteners.
Lord, we pray your blessingover this time and this
conversation and, lord, thatthose would hear it, would be
encouraged and blessed and maybeeven move to action.
Lord, we love you and we praiseyour name.
Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello everybody.
Thank you for joining us forour community, our mission, a
podcast of the Topeka RescueMission.
I'm your host today, barryFeaker, on this Tuesday, april
22nd of 2025.
This is episode number 264.
We've got a lot of things totalk about today on this.
(00:39):
This is National VolunteerMonth and this is National
Volunteer Week in particular, sowe're going to talk to a couple
of folks here in a minute.
National Volunteer Week inparticular, so we're going to
talk to a couple of folks herein a minute.
But we do have with us todayLaManda Cunningham, ceo of
Topeka Rescue Mission, marionCrable, who is Deputy Director
of Supportive Services, johnRoberts, who is Deputy Director
of Community Needs and Services,and Susie Pasley, who is also
our volunteer coordinator.
(00:59):
Good morning, everybody comes upwith these amazing things that
(01:21):
are important about this day,and so it's April 22nd if you're
listening on this day oranother day, but it's April 22nd
of 2025.
And so what do we think aboutwhen we think of the month of
April?
April, what Showers?
Showers, that's right, showers.
What made you think of that?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Because it's on the sheet.
But also April showers bringMay flowers.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh, uh-huh.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
There's a little rhyme.
Well, the rhyme says so.
I know so it must be true.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
It used to really be true at one time I don't know
anymore, with climate change,whatever, but yeah, so April.
We think about April as beingthat shower month yes, and April
22nd was chosen.
Now here's the big questionshower month yes, and April 22nd
was chosen.
Now here's the big question whywas the 22nd, out of all the
other dates in April, chosen tobe recognized as April showers
(02:11):
day?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
LaManda knows.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yes, what is it I know CEO, what is it you know?
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Answer woman, come on , but I don't want to always
answer right, so I just want tobe humble.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
So, is that why you would get a lot of wrong answers
?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
from me so.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
I think John can answer Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
Who's to say I?
Speaker 1 (02:30):
know All right.
Does anybody really know howany of these days are made.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Susie, susie.
One more last chance.
Do you know?
I have no idea.
Hey, you're all right, becausenobody knows where it originated
from.
Originated from, you're allperfectly right.
You answered it in differentways.
Okay, so April showers is onthe 22nd of April because it
rains in April and it wasrecognized, but nobody really
(02:53):
knows why it was picked that day, so probably we don't know.
For the same reason, any ofthese days get picked Right, but
we do know where the next oneoriginated from.
This originated from theCalifornia legislature, declared
official in 2009.
It's National.
What day?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
This really is yours.
It's so appropriate.
Lamanda Crying day no.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Y'all talk about me crying.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
That's pretty much every day for you.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
School bus driver appreciation day.
You're a former principal andteacher.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I thought she'd be all over this.
You don't wake up this morningand go.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
This is that day when I was a principal, I had a
whole calendar of everybody wewere appreciating.
Not anymore, not anymore, but Istill appreciate bus drivers.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I'll tell you what.
They are really important and alot of kids, even when they get
to be older, they go back andtalk about the bus driver and
how important they were.
My father-in-law was a busdriver.
after he retired he was a lettercarrier, and at his funeral
service there were a lot of kidsthat showed up as adults that
remembered him as being that busdriver, sure, and so not only
did he get them there and backobviously they become adults but
(04:03):
he was kind to them and youknow, and sometimes bus drivers
aren't so kind, sit down now.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
They have a big responsibility.
They do A lot of little lives Iam thankful for.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
You know we have Kansas central that serve as the
school bus for a lot of ourkiddos who are here at the Hope
Center, and so I do want to givethem a shout out.
You know this is kind of theirown route, right, in addition to
everything else that they do.
But for the past 30 to 45 dayswe've also had a lot of
(04:38):
construction on Curtis and nextto it, you know, south of the
shelters.
And so Kelly with KansasCentral is wonderful to work
with.
I worked with her when I was aprincipal.
She was at 501 and now she's atKansas Central.
But she messages me if theirtimes are going to deviate or
anything and then I'm able toshare that with shelter staff
(05:00):
and I just appreciate thepartnership.
But even yesterday I wasfollowing the bus and I thought
they have to kind of make theirown route down here once they
get down here.
So a big thank you to them forsure.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Pulling up in front of the Hope Center for kids to
get on the bus and go to schoolis kind of a big deal it is.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
It's kind of like party time it is.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
They get to go to school, and then they bring them
back home.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Yes, yeah, so it never stops and it's kind of
something normal.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yes, exactly In the midst of everything that's not
so normal.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yes, our kiddos.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yep, well, god bless the school bus drivers on this
National Appreciation Day.
All right, the next one.
Everybody always wakes up onApril 22nd and knows about this
particular day because it isnational.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Well, national.
Well, come on, miriam, I'mreally wondering did you bring
me any?
I know jelly beans, I actuallylike jelly beans, I know, but I
never have them.
Because you like them too much,because I eat them, exactly I
can have chocolate in my officeall day, because I don't like
that, but no, jelly beans can'tbe there.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
It's National Jelly Bean Day, y'all, so run out and
get your jelly beans, or goahead and use the ones that you
didn't use at Easter.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah.
So who was the president wholoved jelly beans?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I think that might have been Abe.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
No, no, no.
Someone more recent?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Who was the president recently?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Bless your heart.
I know.
No, ronald Reagan loved jellybeans, so they always had to
have jelly beans in the WhiteHouse for him.
Really, y'all didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I don't like jelly beans.
Yeah, I don't either actuallySorry.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I like school bus drivers and April showers, but
not jelly beans.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
So anyway, whatever, no wonder I don't have them.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
So anyway, the reason I said Abe, because they
apparently were around duringthe Civil War Jelly beans were
Really yeah.
So I figured Abe, you knowwe're going to fight, we're
going to have jelly beans Right,something sweet to.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Need a treat with that, or maybe it's the other
guys Need a treat with the war.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Maybe it's the other guys in the South that did that,
I don't know Maybe.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
So those are the special 22nd that we wanted to
bring to your attention today,which are very important, but
there's one particular thingthat trumps all other April 22nd
, miriam.
What would that be?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
You know, this is a really, really special day that
we should all be celebratingWell or giving condolences, so
one way or the other, becauseyou know, I do believe that our
beloved CEO has been here for abit now, I think, like she's
been the CEO now for three yearsand she's been here at TRM
(07:37):
almost four years.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And it has been a journey.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
for her, it has had enough.
Let's see how do I refer tothem.
Let's call them challenges tofill a lifetime, to absolutely
fill a lifetime, and she hasjust come through in flying
colors, while flying around.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
So, lamanda Broyles excuse me, cunningham you have
been here three years as CEO, asof today.
Did you realize when you tookthe reins about 2 o'clock in the
afternoon three years ago thatit would be this much fun?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
No, I did not, but it has been.
You know, I tell everybody, thepast three years I have been
learning how to be a CEO andyou've been learning how not to
be.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
And how am?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
I doing.
You're doing good, barry.
You have done great.
You have done Um, and I'mthankful for that, you know.
I I think that it's worthy tostill be talking about and
discussing, because I don't takefor granted just the overall
transition.
I mean just how supportive staffwas on that day to make it such
(08:58):
a special welcoming of me andacknowledging your devotion, and
that took a lot of work and I'mthankful for that.
I'm thankful for communitymembers by far that just kind of
welcomed me into this, and I'vemade a lot of wonderful
partnerships but really strongfriendships, so I'm thankful for
(09:21):
that.
I'm thankful that I still haveyou as a mentor, you know,
because, although I will say thelast, like what 12 things I've
come to you with, you've beenlike, yeah, a kid, I don't know,
I didn't go through that, um,but I do appreciate you.
At least sit in it with me,right, um, as we figure it out.
But lots of gratitude, uh, forI'm not even sure I understood
(09:45):
three years ago the magnitude ofthe position, and that's
probably God's mercy, becauseI'm not sure I wasn't ready for
it then you had to close yourears and I'm not going, that's
right, and so I'm thankful forthat.
But I do think that one thingthat I definitely don't take for
granted is just everybody'skindness with it, but then also
(10:09):
understanding that each yearthat passes there's a different
depth to it that I take, that Idon't take lightly, and then I'm
very, very humbled that Godwould look at all of my
imperfections and say, yep,you're who I want, there, with
that team serving alongside them.
So it's had a lot of difficultyas well and, honestly, you know,
(10:34):
two things I hope that I'vedone well.
One I hope that I have somehowtruly been a witness for who
Christ is and who he isn't.
The second piece is I hope that, as a leader, I have talked
about the vulnerabilities justas much as I've talked about the
(10:58):
successes, because I feel likethat's something that is hurting
in our community, and maybe notjust our own, where there's
pressures on leaders to have allthe answers, to know what to do
.
You reach a certain level andyou're there, and I just don't
think that's reallysanctification and I don't think
(11:19):
that's really God's expectationof us, and so I hope that I've
been a witness for him.
But I also hope that I havetalked about the challenges, the
struggles, all of thattransparently, to hopefully help
other leaders realize that westill have a dependence on him.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I think you've done very well and congratulations on
three years in this position.
I think when I think about youbeing in this position three
years and I was before you andpeople were before me because
70-plus years at Topeka RescueMission I always so think about
all the supporters, all thepeople who have financially
contributed, materiallycontributed and volunteered.
(12:02):
That's what we're talking abouttoday is this takes a big, big
team, not just the staff but awhole community that's coming
together and the position ofwhat we call CEO now is the one
that casts the vision for thatlistens to what's going on out
there, works with the team, getsgreat people in, like you have
in your deputy directors andSusie here today, to be able to
(12:23):
take it forward.
And so it's very complex what'shappening in our country today.
What's happening in ourcommunity?
Maybe more complex than it hasbeen in regards to the homeless
issue in our lifetimes, and soit takes a leader and somebody
who God chose we know that foryou to step in and you haven't
(12:45):
heard him tell you to quit.
And so thanks for not quitting.
We need you to be in the seatthat you're in, and so thank you
for leading well.
So that's April 22nd.
Remember that everybody.
And yeah, I saw our NARAD onthe 22nd myself in kind of a
cool ceremony that we had, andit was a blessing.
So I'm glad to still be a partof TRM.
(13:07):
So let's talk.
Well, merrim, you have anupdate, and then we want to talk
about volunteers.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Oh, I think you should just go straight to
volunteers.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Oh, let's go straight to volunteers.
So, john, susie, you guys arein this volunteer space,
especially you, susie.
John is a deputy director.
You have some other departments, so let's start with you, john.
You all are for distributionservices and food services, and
volunteers too, and housing, andhousing.
(13:35):
Okay, wow, anything else, and,and, and Anything else.
Or are you just going to tellus later today?
Right, it changes often, sotalk about from your lens.
You have Susie over here, whichwe're going to hear from in a
second because she coordinatesall this, but what do you see
with food services, housingservices, the distribution
services, everything that we'redoing here, what's the
(13:57):
importance to volunteers fromyour lens?
Speaker 6 (14:00):
That's a great question, and it is something
that we cannot do withoutvolunteers.
There is so much work that getsdone in all of those
departments, especially justthinking of with food service.
In particular, we're servingthree meals a day to all of our
(14:21):
shelter guests, plus a mealoutside.
That's a lot of food that needsto get cooked.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Plus, providing food for the Mobile Access
Partnership.
Absolutely, and it goes backoutdoors as well and to
different locations around.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
Yeah, a lot of food and then other events and
opportunities that we can blessvulnerable community members
with food that pop up, and sothat is a lot of food that needs
to be cooked every day, needsto be prepared.
There's prep that goes in, itneeds to be served, spaces need
to get cleaned up and we justhave such a really a force of
(14:55):
people who come in andfaithfully serve different
businesses, who free up theiremployees time to come down and
serve church businesses, whofree up their employees' time to
come down and serve churchgroups, who are faithful and
that's part of the outreach thatthey do.
Families bringing their kidsand using it as an opportunity
to help instill values of givingback and of service in their
(15:15):
kids, and just individualscoming and every single day we
just have teams of volunteers inthere, face-to-face with our
guests, with our communitymembers, with a smile on their
face as they help.
And that's just one departmentand really in all of our areas
then that same thing ishappening, so they're really
(15:38):
part of the workforce.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Absolutely Takes a lot of organization.
On that, though, it's not justa somebody walks in off the
street and says, hey, I want tohelp, and then you plug them in
because there's a need tocoordinate that, to make sure we
got enough volunteers in onearea Not too many, not too few,
if we can.
Also, some training goes intothat.
You've got a lot of things onyour plate.
What's the value of havingSusie as coordinating all that
(16:02):
and talk about Susie, and thenwe're going to talk to Susie.
Speaker 6 (16:07):
Susie is wonderful.
It is really a Herculean taskbecause there are so many
different opportunities thatpeople need that people need,
and different departments notonly have different tasks that
(16:28):
they might need help forvolunteers to come and help
serve with, but also justdifferent types of volunteers.
Some of just some of all of thedifferent coordination that
Susie does is a great job ofbalancing, getting the right
people into the right spot andmaking sure that it's going to
be something that they will findvalue and have success in, so
(16:51):
that it's a meaningfulexperience not for the people
receiving the service but for avaluable experience for the
people providing the service.
And I think she does that bygetting to know the volunteers.
So each and every volunteerthat comes through, susie takes
time to get to know them, tolearn about them, to give them
(17:13):
some orientation, some training,to get their skills and
interests and so that she canpinpoint.
I think I have an opportunitythat would sound fun to you.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
That would be Sounds like time to ask for a raise.
Susie, that's a good promo.
You do know Susie wasn't hereor doing the job she's doing.
You get to do it too.
You know that, right.
Sorry my eyes.
Susie, you've been on thepodcast before.
We've talked about volunteersand so kind of refresh us how
(17:39):
many volunteers, roughly, do wehave on the list that you could
get a hold of that?
Either regular and or on-calltype folks.
What's your list?
Speaker 5 (17:50):
We are at about 900 right now a little over 900.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
That's cool 900 people who've identified as they
want to help.
Speaker 5 (17:58):
It is, and like on a Tuesday or Thursday, when we
have MAP going on and the fooddistribution, we have 90, if
every spot is filled, we have 90volunteers on site here, which
is more than the number ofemployees that we have here more
than our staff and on any givenMonday, Wednesday, Friday, we
have close to 70.
(18:18):
So that's a lot of people in aweek, that's a lot of people
here.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Miriam, you've calculated these numbers before
about that financial value backto TRM.
If we had to hire all thosepeople, because you really have
to have those jobs doneVolunteers aren't extra, they're
part of the workforce.
What do you recall?
I'm putting you on the spothere.
Do you recall generally whatthat number figure?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
is.
It's about seven full-timevolunteers.
I mean seven full-time staffthat it would take to replace
all of the volunteers that areassisting us regularly, and that
kind of doesn't even count.
Different kinds of things, likewhen we do special projects.
You know Christmas is a bigdeal, but I mean you heard what
Susie just talked about in termsof just what we need in a week.
(19:02):
That's a lot of assistance$150,000 roughly or more.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Oh yeah, last month alone we had.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
When you look at the volunteers, we had over 21,000
volunteer hours.
So then when you look at thatand you put it to a dollar
amount, we're looking at like$685,000.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Okay over half a million dollars that volunteers
help this, and that's thevolunteers on your list.
That doesn't include thevolunteers out collecting food
through their church group whichthen that dollar amount.
So it's like multiple millionsof dollars benefit from
donations of time or efforts inaddition to cash.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
So it just takes that .
I think people need to knowthat it's not just about writing
a check.
Checks are extremely important,giving is extremely important,
but there's not enough in anorganization like this to be
able to do that without this too.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Well, and Barry, the other thing too is it doesn't
always require that people be onsite, like I think about our
prayer volunteers that pray forour requests, that come in to us
from donors or staff orwhatever.
We have all of these differentkinds of opportunities that meet
different people's needs orabilities.
Right, because not everybodycan come out and work at MAP.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I want to go back to Susie, but you just brought up
something.
There are volunteers who prayfor people who send prayer
requests.
Talk about that for a moment.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Well, to me that's a really special, special thing,
because we do have volunteersthat have been volunteering or
care about the mission a lot,but they're just not in a
position where they can stillcome here and do some things,
but they can be in their homeand pray for us.
So they get lists from us everyweek in terms of people that
(20:48):
have requested prayer from us,that are our donors, and we then
forward those to people, andthen we have a volunteer that
writes notes saying, hey, weprayed for you for this, so that
people know that we prayed forthem.
And so it's just this wonderfulway for people to be supportive
of the work that we do and thepeople that support us.
(21:10):
So not just about us, not justabout those we serve, but even
the donors that so deeply careabout what we do.
They also have things going onin their lives that they need
prayer for and they trust uswith that information to be able
to then lift up their needs tothe Lord as well.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
So there's sometimes people say I'm going to pray for
you, Don't mean it.
It's just a phrase, but thismeans it, this really means it.
Actually, when somebody says Ihave a prayer need, like my
husband has cancer, or we lost ajob, or we need this or that or
the other thing and would youplease pray for us, it actually
gets done.
Yeah, so there's volunteersthat do that.
So, suzy, 900 on your list Allkinds of different walks and
(21:56):
sizes and trying to help thensupplement the ongoing work with
TRM.
How long have you been doingthis now?
Speaker 5 (22:06):
It was two years in March, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
And just so you know, her contract she signed was
until 2099.
I may not be on planet Earth bythen, and the only exception is
if Jesus comes back before then, through technology, we expect
you to do it from whereveryou're remotely at that's right.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
Remote in heaven?
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Susie, I've worked there's been some great
volunteer coordinators over theyears at Topeka Rescue Mission.
I tell you you were really anall-star there at the top.
And I hear that not just fromstaff, but I hear it from
volunteers as well.
And so two years ago, when youstepped into this position, I
know you were familiar withTopeka Rescue Mission, familiar
through your pastor being one,clark Johnson, who was a board
(22:50):
member here, who had passed awaybefore you came on board here,
and different experiences withTRM.
But what's changed in these twoyears, from your perspective,
as I'm the new kid on the blockdoing this job to a veteran of
two years now?
Speaker 5 (23:09):
I feel like I understand better all of the
things that happen here atTerium.
And that is one of the thingsthat I so enjoy when I do the
volunteer orientations, becauseI have the opportunity to
educate, which is a field that Iwas in previously education but
I have that opportunity to openpeople's eyes and to realize so
(23:31):
many things that are going onhere that are helping people.
We're not just, you know, as alot of times we're referred to
as maybe just a bed and a meal,and there's so much more here,
that and how we walk with ourguests and our folks as they
move on into their own housingand into their own jobs, and how
(23:52):
we help them to not only justbecome stable but be able to
have success and move forward.
And that's what the volunteerslove.
That's why they love to be apart of TRM is because they see
that we do serve a lot of mealsI think it's over 1,000 meals a
day but we also come along andwe nurture and care for them as
(24:19):
far as the journey that they'retaking from where they have been
to just those steps forward.
And oftentimes the volunteerswill ask the question I think
this is common how long do youlet them stay?
Well, as they are movingforward and that can be a
different pace for each one ofus and for them, it's just
(24:40):
whatever they need to keepmoving forward.
And that is the beauty of TRM,and I think I feel like all of
my life God has been preparingme for this season of my life to
be here and to be a part, tojust watch it is beautiful.
(25:01):
To be a part of it is just soincredibly fulfilling and a
blessing in the depths of yoursoul.
That's different than otherthings that you can do.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
You may have already answered my next question, but
what's your most enjoyable thingabout what you do?
Speaker 5 (25:23):
Wow, there's a lot of things.
It's hard when you say one ortwo.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
We're on a limited time here, so you know, I love
the volunteers.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
I love seeing their hearts come in and be open to
how can they help and what canthey do, and seeing that change
in their own lives.
And then, when I take newvolunteers on the tours, to see
them say, oh this is, you'regoing to love this, you're going
to love this.
(25:57):
Walking into our shelters andgetting to see our guests that
I've come to know from beinghere and having them stop and
talk to me and tell me what'sgoing on with them or you know,
um, just that comfort that theyfeel, just being together with
me, and I love.
I love that privilege too.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
So it really takes that people oriented person
which you are.
Uh, amanda, a lot of movingparts, a lot of different people
doing different positions umfront lines, midline, backline.
Susie is in all of thosepositions.
Yes, so um as CEO talk aboutthe importance of a people
(26:39):
oriented volunteer coordinator.
Speaker 4 (26:41):
Yeah, you know, I was thinking about Susie last night
and Because I think we've alldescribed her as like any, any
type of positive adjectivethat's out, there is Susie Right
From just the kindness, thetenderness, the good listener,
friend, all of that, and so Iwas kind of like but that it
(27:04):
still doesn't sum her up like.
She's just so different.
And the thing that I came towas the phrase that we often say
quality over quantity.
That's Susie.
So Susie's position could bevery quantitative, it could be
numbers based.
She knows how many spots sheneeds to fill, she knows how
(27:26):
many volunteers she has, sheknows when schedules change, she
knows when we're doingalternative food schedules, all
of these things.
Like she's involved in thenumbers piece of TRM, which is
very important, right, we've gotto know what we need and we've
got to know what meets the need,know what meets the need.
(27:58):
And it could be very easy forSusie to fill spots, Like we've
got four that we need right nowin this area and I'm going to
put four people there, butthat's just not Susie.
Susie has been able andhonestly, other than and I know
it sounds cliche, but just thegifting from the Lord, it's the
only way I know how she can doit, Because she takes these
numbers and these needs and thenunderstanding.
(28:20):
The next layer is what do thosenumbers represent?
Well, it's not just standing ina food line to serve, she
understands.
And when you're standing in afood line to serve, we want you
to smile, we want you tointeract, we want you to do this
.
Yes, you have to have gloves.
Like she gets it.
She probably could be thebalance between a volunteer
coordinator and an operationsdirector.
(28:42):
Like she has to know thedetails, and so I appreciate
that she has the skill sets tounderstand the quantity piece
and why it's so valuable,Because if those spots aren't
filled, work is not done.
I mean, it's really that plain,but yet she does it with
quality, and what I mean by thatis kind of how John touched on
(29:05):
earlier.
She wants to be as personal asshe can with the departments to
truly know the need.
She also wants to be aspersonal as she can with the
departments to truly know theneed.
She also wants to be aspersonal as she can with the
volunteers so that it's aquality, even if that person
doesn't understand it.
(29:33):
She understands that it is a Godoccurrence and I think that
when we peel back all of justthe amazing layers to Susie and
there's lots the fruit of it isshe understands everything she
does is for the Lord and shealso understands that everything
she's working with that sheprobably truly is putting the
(29:55):
puzzle pieces together of divineintervention and I love that.
She values that.
That that's not something thatI can instill.
We can teach organization, wecan teach email etiquette.
We can do all of that.
But to know to embed in someoneyou are doing the Lord's work on
(30:19):
so many different levels andyou have no idea why God has
that individual person in the DCcar line.
But God knows it and she lovesthe Lord so much that she's just
obedient and to me it is trulyinvaluable what she does.
And to try to put that in wordsis somewhat difficult, other
(30:43):
than saying she understands herassignment from the Lord.
Everything she does is for himand somehow she's able to do it
with a love of people that cometo us different backgrounds,
different personalities,different needs.
We have some people who wouldbe here seven days a week if
they could.
We have some people that say Ionly want one hour and I'm not
going to be a minute late, andshe just handles them with love
(31:06):
and care, and to me it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
And you know, I think the thing that we also need to
recognize here is Susie is veryoften the first contact that
people have with TRM.
You know emails.
I monitor the general TRM emailaddress and we get emails like
the one that I recently receivedfrom a company that says look,
we want to be a part of thecommunity, do you want to
(31:31):
partner with us?
I'm not going to do anythingwith this email except forward
it to Susie right, so she willbe the first contact that this
person has whose title happensto be people in culture, senior
manager, right?
So it's about how can being atTRM and helping TRM build our
culture in our business?
(31:51):
So the reasons people come hereare different, but Susie will
be the first contact that thisperson has with us.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Well, susie, if you stop breathing by now, all this
reflection of this big job thatyou have.
I do hear that they're lookingfor traffic controllers at
O'Hare Airport.
If you are looking for adifferent job.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
It sounds like you're kind of like that.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
You've got incoming outgoing, you have landings,
takeoffs, those kind of things.
Susie, this is how your teamsees you.
This is how leadership sees youhere, and then I'd also said,
this is how the people who arevolunteering see you, which then
translates into that greatervalue that LaManda was talking
about in regards to what God isdoing in all of this.
(32:35):
So it's a big job.
I want to talk about a littlebit of the nuts and bolts here
in a minute, but before we dothat, we talked about what you
enjoy the most.
What's the most challengingpart of this?
Speaker 3 (32:54):
If we haven't already said that with everything that
you're having to do here, orgetting to do what's the most
challenging thing personally toyou and we know it's.
John is your supervisor andwe're sorry about that, susie.
Speaker 6 (32:59):
We're sorry, can't fix that one.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
That's right, but we've tried.
I actually like John.
And we keep trying, he's greattoo.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
It's great too.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
I'm good.
Most challenging Probably the24-hour shifts on the warming
center.
To be honest, those overnightthose are challenging.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
What was challenging about that?
What isn't?
Speaker 3 (33:25):
I was going to say, people volunteers.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Getting enough of them, because we're 24-7.
It's a crisis, emergencysituation.
There really is not a lot oftime to equip and train.
I mean all those things.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
Well, you know, the community of Topeka is amazing
and so many folks that volunteerwith the heart to be there to
come.
I mean, we even had regularvolunteers during the warming
center that would come multipledays to serve, but that
overnight, that 24-7, especiallyas you go out the longer
distance, more than just acouple of days.
(33:59):
It's tough because folks aretrying to figure out how to get
out of their houses or how towork and help others.
It's not that they don't havethe heart, they have the heart
to want to help, but that's justreally challenging, especially
as the week goes on.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
How do you deal with the?
Okay, I've got thisresponsibility of finding these
people to fill these positionsand there are some that are the
ongoing.
We need to have this done atthis time.
We do it every day like this.
Then there's those unusualtimes.
We plan for a Topeka rescuemission and, through the
community, we plan for now whatwe call extreme weather events.
(34:37):
We just don't know when they'regoing to happen and how long
they're going to happen.
So you plan for something youknow is probably going to come,
but it may not come.
But when it comes, you weren'tsure when it was going to come
and how long it's going to lastwhen it comes, and on and on.
Exactly, do you?
How do you handle the stress ofthat when they're saying, susie
(34:58):
, we need somebody for the fourhour shift, starting at one
o'clock in the morning at awarming center, with people
coming off the streets and maybethey've never done that before?
How do you handle that stress?
Speaker 5 (35:04):
One of the biggest things I've learned in my life
is that God is the provider ofall things, and so there are
times, even during the week, ifI'm short volunteers in a
particular spot and I know thatthey need at least another
person or two, I just stop andpray and then I trust that, if
(35:28):
God provides for, and then Itrust that if God provides for,
that's what we needed.
Those are the people that weneeded for the opportunity that
we are providing volunteers for,and I trust, and then, you know
, sometimes I still go really.
Lord, was that enough?
And I pray, help it to beenough, help it to come together
(35:50):
.
And I pray, help it to beenough, help it to come together
.
However, lord, you know and youforesaw that it would all work
well and that the experience foreveryone involved would be a
blessing and encouragement, in away that it draws them closer
to you.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
So, susie, people oftentimes talk about prayer.
They talk about that.
It's important.
This is like serious prayer foryou, because we're talking
about serious lives at stake.
Have you seen God come throughin ways that you didn't think it
was going to happen?
You've got a big smile on yourface right now.
Talk about that, and what doesthat say to you?
Speaker 5 (36:28):
Absolutely.
Oh my, it's so beautiful towatch.
You know, somebody will send mea text or they'll send me an
email or they'll give me a calland they'll be like, hey, I can
come, I can help.
And I especially love it when Ihaven't even sent the request
out to everyone, I think it'sreally cool to just see God pop
(36:50):
that in their thoughts to moveforward, and then they reach out
to me.
So I think that's why I see therelationship as very important
to this role, because I wantpeople to know that they can
reach out to me at any time,because I'm just the connection
for the Father.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Do you find that there are volunteers that come
in who maybe have a differentlevel of spiritual understanding
by being involved in TopekaRescue Mission maybe an
enrichment in regards to thereality of Christ and being a
part of this Do you get any kindof feedback in that regard?
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Yes, yes, being a part of this, do you get any
kind of feedback in that regard?
Yes, yes, a lot of times I'vehad volunteers serve with the
drive up food distribution andjust the beauty of being the
person who picks up the bag offood and puts it out there and
offers a smile or a hello tothat person that's picking up
food that needs it.
Just, you know, I've heard themmake reference to it's like
(37:53):
offering a cup of cold water,you know to someone who's
thirsty and you can tell that itspoke very deeply to their soul
, that they can see they're thatconduit for the Father to give
food to that person.
So, yeah, there's a lot oftimes to give food to that
(38:14):
person.
So, yeah, there's a lot oftimes.
And, too, just the volunteershave also commented on the
blessing of the staff to them,just how they feel that the
staff really cares about themand cares about those that we
work with.
They can see it in staff aswell as each other.
So, yeah, very definitely.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
So there's opportunities for the volunteer
to even grow spiritually, beinga part of this, because
sometimes we hear about what theWord says to do.
We've studied it, gone tochurch faithfully.
Whatever the case might be ormaybe we're new to it this is a
place where rubber meets theroad in regards to a need and
then being able to fill thatneed.
John, being over food servicesin your time here, you've seen
(38:58):
some of those needs metmiraculously with food coming in
.
What does that do to you andspeak to you and your team?
Speaker 6 (39:05):
It's definitely encouraging when those things
happen, right when moments ofpanic or anxiety of how are we
going to make this work, andexactly what you need, comes at
exactly the right time andsometimes, especially with
volunteers, exactly the rightperson shows up.
And it's also it's always funnywhen someone shows up and
(39:26):
they're just here to do one taskand then you get to know them
and maybe they have a funnystory of how they ended up
hearing about the opportunity.
And then they tell you abouttheir experience and their skill
set and their heart and theyhave.
And all of a sudden you're like, oh my gosh, this is perfect
for this opportunity that wehave here.
(39:47):
And just seeing how people Godleads people through a door to
maybe start by, you know, wipingdown tables after lunch, or
maybe it's helping collapseboxes after a food distribution
and that's maybe their ticket inthe door and then just seeing
God pull on their heartstringsand that exactly the right
(40:08):
person shows up with exactly theright skill set to then come in
and make a big impact for Godand for our community here that
we're serving at TRM, and sothose are always just it's
moments like that that keep yougoing.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
So God answers prayer all the time, because we have
to have God answer prayer allthe time and sometimes the
volunteer is the answer to theprayer and I would imagine,
susie, that when a person gets aclue, wow, you prayed and I
showed up.
I just felt like I was supposedto pick up that phone and call
you or go online.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
I tell them you are an answer to prayer and I mean
it.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Who doesn't want to hear that in their life right?
Speaker 3 (40:49):
Yeah, and you know, barry, though I think it's
important that the people thatare listening realize, too, not
everyone is coming here becausethey feel like the Lord has
called them.
That's true.
It may not be that that is wherethey are on their journey yet,
and I think that, then, is whatgives us whether it's Susie or
(41:09):
all of our staff the opportunityto be a reflection of Christ
for them.
So they may have had church hurt, they may have not ever really
known what a relationship withthe Lord looks like, or not even
known that it's what they want,but they know that they want to
help people and they know wehelp people, and so the
(41:32):
opportunity that our teams haveto then be a witness in a very
tangible kind of way, to why wedo what we do, why we are called
to do this, can often changetheir lives in ways that we
maybe can't even imagine,because it isn't a requirement
(41:53):
that you know the Lord to comebe here right, we need your
heart to be willing to serve.
But it gives a different kindof opportunity for how we get to
witness, not just to those thatcome to us because they're
experiencing homelessness orbecause they need food, but
people who may just be hungeringfor something more that they
(42:14):
don't even know what it isthey're hungering for.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
And there's an opportunity wherever they are.
Susie, let's get into the nutsand bolts just very briefly.
So what is the requirement fora volunteer?
How does somebody find outabout where they can volunteer
and how do they get connectedwith you?
Speaker 5 (42:27):
So we have a great location on our website.
Trm onlineorg has a volunteertab, and if you click on that
tab, you can look at what aresome of the opportunities.
You can sign up and open anaccount with us to start, and
you can also see what are theexpectations for volunteers, and
(42:48):
so that's a great spot to justgo ahead and sign up in there
and then I'm notified when yousign up and that gives me an
opportunity to reach out to youand invite you to our
orientations that we have.
We have those one in theafternoon and one in the evening
every month, and so that's thestart and then people need to
come through the orientation.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
What's the value of that?
Speaker 5 (43:11):
That is a fun time Everybody loves it honestly
because we tour buildings so youget to see our shelters, our
dining room, our distributioncenter and our children's palace
.
And then they get to learnabout all of the inner workings,
of all the programs andopportunities that we have here
(43:32):
for our guests, so they get tosee how it all fits together.
I love it when they say I hadno idea.
And I just smile because I'mlike yeah, and then we can talk
about what they're interested in.
Usually people come withsomething that sparked their
interest and that helps to giveme a starting spot, and then we
(43:56):
can see you know what skills.
If they don't know where tostart, you know what their
skills are and looking foropportunities.
So, yeah, that's the startingspot.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
So how long is that orientation?
Speaker 5 (44:09):
The orientation is two hours and I've had people
say two hours, but when you tourbuildings and you're hopping
around, it just takes a littlebit of that travel, kind of like
going to Disneyland, not goingto Disneyland.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
One hour Travel time.
So well, this is NationalVolunteer Month, national
Volunteer Week.
Anything special going on thisweek with the volunteers?
Speaker 5 (44:28):
Yeah, this year we're doing some department
celebrations, so a little bit ofa different instead of
everybody all coming together inlarge scope.
So it's really been fun.
We've had a couple of themalready and the volunteers have
really appreciated theopportunity to get to know the
staff and those departmentsbetter, and staff that they
haven't met before, as well aseach other.
(44:49):
So it's been fun hearing theirstories about how they came here
, how long they've been here,what they've been doing, but
also they've commented on howmuch they've enjoyed that chance
to get to know our staff inthat specific area as well.
So we're doing that and then wehave some fun thank you videos
coming out to volunteers too andthank you notes.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
So just a lot of different little things going on
, A lot of organization there.
So, as we wrap this up again,thank you, Susie John, thank you
for what you guys do in thisarena.
Mary Lamanda, thank you forjust the leadership.
Congratulations again.
Three years now as CEO.
How many more do you have tocatch up?
Speaker 4 (45:32):
I know what 34?
Because I got to go past you.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Well see, but I'm still hanging around TRM, and so
yesterday was actually my 39thday.
Speaker 4 (45:40):
I don't know if I'm ever going to catch up.
Speaker 2 (45:41):
I don't think you're going to catch up until you get
me out of here, so anyway, letme add this one more group of
volunteers, I know you will wantto mention that you work really
closely with.
All volunteers are equal inimportance.
They all have different roles,but one has a unique role.
What is that?
Speaker 4 (45:55):
Yes, that is the Topeka Rescue Mission Board of
Directors and despite some ofthe rumors out there you know I
do have to giggle sometimes,barry, but I have been told that
our board of directors make alot of money yeah.
I've heard that too, and aregiven vehicles and all sorts of
(46:16):
stuff.
And our volunteers, that areour board of directors, their
wages right, their pay is goingto come in heaven and extra
jewels in the crowd.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
It started out zero and zero.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
Yes, so it's zero and zero, zero.
So our board of directors,though, on a serious note, they
are completely volunteers andsometimes I think that we forget
that a little bit because theyhave such an important
leadership stewardship of thisministry, but they are doing
that on their own time.
(46:50):
I mean, many of them have theirown professions or are retired
and very well involved in otherareas, and so I appreciate them,
I appreciate their love for theLord and how they walk their
own journey, and all of themtalk about their testimony right
(47:11):
, and what links all of themtogether is they are all driven
to help lead others to Christperiod, and it's because of how
they've recognized that they'vebeen drawn to Christ and what a
difference and a transformationthat is in their lives.
And so it truly.
I can say this with nohesitation it is a blessing to
(47:35):
have that board, and I tell themthat all the time.
That does not mean we're alwaysunanimous in our votes and it
doesn't mean we always seethings at the same timing, you
know.
And it's all this beautifulpackage, but what is amazing is
when we're having crucialconversations or we're trying to
(47:55):
figure out the Lord's wheelwe're trying to look at is this
the timing for this.
Is it not the timing for that?
There is so much respect anddignity and really just
reverence for the Lord and alsotrying to find this balance of.
They're responsible for action,though, and so to me.
(48:19):
You know I've served on otherboards, I've been parts of other
boards.
I hear stories of other boards,and I can truly say that I am
thankful for ours, and we'rekind of in this season of
transition.
The board is evaluating whatmore should they be doing.
They're looking at what'scoming next for TRM.
(48:39):
They're looking at how betterto support me as the CEO, but
not micromanage, and I just lovethat.
I love and respect our boardpresident, john Austinson.
Um, you know, I think we've hadincredible board presidents in
the past, uh, that I have a lotof respect for, but there's
(49:00):
something different about Johnand and he's really bringing
this balance of spiritualmaturity and and accountability
with also walking the walk andtalking the talk, and so I'm
thankful for each and every oneof them.
They bring their own talents.
You know, I tease Mike Reinhardta lot, because he's our
(49:21):
treasure, and I tell him all thetime like if it wasn't for you,
I would just go cross-eyed atall the stuff that you and
Miriam have to do with thebudgets and the financials, and
I could just go down the list ofevery board member and how they
use their specific giftings andtalents that God's given them.
And the cool thing too is it'salmost like every quarter.
(49:45):
I find out something that aboard member's doing that I had
no idea out, something that aboard member's doing that I had
no idea.
And so I also look at our boardas I see what they do every
month and I see the textmessages, because there's
several exchanged in betweenmeetings.
There's emails that go back andforth.
I give them a CEO report once amonth.
There's all of this.
So we're very involved andwe're very engaged.
(50:10):
But there's still so much thatthey do either individually in
the area of homelessness or forTRM, preventative measures,
those kinds of things that theyjust kind of are silent heroes
too.
They just do it in theirprivate lives.
That bless a lot of people andthat's just neat.
Just when you think you get toknow them, then you find out
(50:32):
this other great quality aboutthem.
So I'm thankful.
I'm thankful to get to servealongside them and, despite
what's out there, they arevolunteers.
They are not paid employees.
That's right.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Volunteers are usually not paid, that's right.
Well, we've heard a lot aboutvolunteers today and you may be
one, and we are so grateful toyou who are listening, and you
may be wondering if maybe yeah,I want to do that Maybe it's at
a level of serving food, or itmight be in street outreach,
maybe a mobile accesspartnership, it could be
(51:04):
distribution, shelters, the listgoes on and on, and maybe even
a future board member withTopeka Rescue Mission.
And so Susie's your gal.
You can go to trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg, and go tothe volunteer section and thank
you for volunteering to listento our community, our mission.
I know there's many of you outthere who do this faithfully,
(51:25):
whether you're washing thedishes or you're driving your
car or you're just chilling out.
Thank you for being a part ofthis, because when you spread
the word about Topeka RescueMission, you are indeed a
volunteer we need.
Thank you.
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