Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Jenkins
Sometimes when I’m putting aside an apple that’s just too bruised, I tell it, ‘You still have a purpose.’ There really is a place for everything.
It’s a simple comment, but it perfectly captures the way Linda Jenkins sees the world.
When Linda moved to Brookfield in 2016 to be closer to her son’s family, she was looking for a way to get involved in her new community. She discovered BEDS Plus through its overnight winter shelter program and began volunteering. When the organization evolved after the pandemic, she wasn’t quite sure where she fit in next. So she asked her grandson if he would volunteer with her.
Today, they serve meals at the Summit Medical Respite, rescue and sort food, for food boxes that are delivered to housed BEDS Plus clients experiencing food insecurity.
Ask Linda what surprised her most, and she doesn’t hesitate.
“I think what surprised me most was the breadth of what BEDS Plus does.”
Before volunteering, she thought BEDS Plus was primarily about providing shelter. What she discovered was an organization that walks alongside people at every stage, from outreach and medical respite to housing, employment support, and helping families put food on the table after they’ve moved into a home.
One place she sees that mission in action every week is through the Food Rescue program.
Donated food from local grocery stores and community partners is sorted and packed for BEDS Plus clients, including individuals and families who have recently moved into housing. Additional food is shared with community pantries, bread is set aside for chicken feed, and bruised or unusable produce is composted.
“It’s very impressive to see that there’s a place for everything,” Linda says.
Then she smiles.
“Sometimes when I’m putting aside an apple that’s just too bruised, I tell it, ‘You still have a purpose. You’re going to be compost. Don’t worry.'”
On Thursday evenings, they trade food boxes for serving trays, helping prepare and serve dinner at the Summit Medical Respite.
They know who likes salad, who prefers a sugar free cookie, and who enjoys sharing stories about grandchildren, former jobs, or where they grew up. They celebrate birthdays, new jobs, and milestones together. Linda remembers one guest who had spent years dealing with serious medical issues. After receiving the care she needed, she completed caregiver training, passed her certification exam, found a job as a caregiver, and moved into her own apartment.
“I would love to have her as a caregiver,” Linda says with a smile. “She was just so happy. I remember the excitement when she passed her caregiver exam.”
“People don’t realize that as a volunteer, you aren’t just standing there behind a counter. You’re part of something that’s happening socially. It’s as good for me as it is for them.”
Linda says one of the biggest surprises has been getting to know the people she serves.
She expected “thank yous.” She didn’t expect the laughter.
She talks about the jokes, the stories, and the resilience she sees every week. She has met people who have worked their entire lives, people rebuilding after illness, and people looking forward to what’s next. She sees neighbors with stories worth hearing.
For Linda, a meal has never been just about the food.
“Everybody wants dignity. Everybody wants to feel respected,” she says.
Her grandson offered a thought that has stayed with her. “It would make me feel that I’m not being ignored. Someone’s caring about me.”
Volunteering has become more than serving meals or packing food. It’s about being part of a community where people know one another, celebrate one another, and remind each other that no one should feel invisible.
Linda often reflects on a lesson passed down by her grandparents: live by your deeds.
It’s a philosophy that has guided her life and one she is now passing on to her grandson. Perhaps that’s why she can look at a bruised apple and smile.
After all…
There really is a place for everything.