This month we are celebrating our volunteer spotlight Sue Katra who helps out each week as well as at other weekly or one time volunteer opportunities. Sue is our front desk receptionist Wednesday afternoons and she does an amazing job answering the phones and the door, accepting donations, and making connections with the clients. She helps to free up staff so they can provide direct care to the women and children we serve. Sue is a friendly face at Ruth's House and we enjoy seeing her each week! Thank you Sue!

Sue writes:
"I enjoy meeting the adults and children who come to Ruth's House. It is exciting to witness the successes of these women as they find jobs, homes, and opportunities for education. These women are to be commended for their courage in the face of adversity."

Photo: Sue Katra (in red) surrounded by her family

June's volunteer spotlight is on Kurt Halverson. Kurt volunteers his time at Ruth's House leading a budgeting class for our residents. Kurt writes:

It is an honor to be selected as the June Volunteer Spotlight for Ruth’s House! I grew up in Waseca. After high school I attended South Central College-Faribault where I earned my Associates Degree in Sales and Marketing. I have been with HomeTown Credit Union for almost 11 years, and I have done everything from being a teller to managing. My current position has been my favorite; I focus on community outreach and teaching people how to manage their money. I am married and have a pre-school aged daughter. In my free time I enjoy old cars, being outdoors, and building a model railroad in my basement.

It started as an opportunity to share information with people about budgeting, saving and managing credit scores. After I started working with the clients of Ruth’s House, I found that hearing their stories was quite a powerful experience. Seeing clients work through the process to obtain permanent housing is inspiring and incredible.

It has been one of the most wonderful experiences that I have had the pleasure to participate in. From the passionate staff to the incredible residents; every visit I make has been a powerful lesion in the ability of the human spirit to overcome difficult situations. If you have not yet done so, please consider volunteering your time. While you might set out to make a difference for someone else, it might end up making a difference in your life as well.

Kurt goes above and beyond to help the residents at Ruth's House. He makes himself available to answer questions and tailors plans to the individual resident's needs. We are so blessed to have his professional knowledge as we continue the mission of Ruth's House.

This month's volunteer spotlight is on Ashley 'Ptacek' Olson. She is shown here with her family, Mathew, Wyatt, and Carter. What would we do without Ashley? She is the design genius behind our newsletters and many other marketing materials. She is a pleasure to work with and does amazing and beautiful work!

Ashley shared:
When I moved to Faribault with my husband, I had only visited the area once prior and we didn't expect it to be a long term move. Nine years later we have met so many amazing people and we feel lucky to have landed here. We have two young boys who keep us on our toes and bring so much joy. I am a full-time freelance graphic designer and absolutely love what I do.

I am so grateful to be able to share my passion of design with Ruth's House and help them with their projects. What they do for our community is outstanding. They touch many lives and I hope to be involved for many years to come.

This month we celebrate volunteers from Carleton College's Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) Ruth's House volunteer program. This wonderful group provides once a week respite for moms staying at Ruth's House as well as providing support at our events. The kids look forward to their visits and enjoy playtime and crafting with the volunteers.

Preethyia Sekar shared:
I am a senior Biology major from Rochester, MN. I've been volunteering with Ruth's House for the last four years. Maya Ben Shahar is a junior Psychology major from Chicago, IL. She has been volunteering with Ruth's House for the last three years. Catalina Alvarez-Ruiz is a freshman from Sudbury, MA and has gotten involved with Ruth's House over this past year!

We all love an opportunity to spend time with the kids at Ruth's House. We are always so excited to take a break from Carleton and spend time doing crafts and baking with the kids!

Thank you Preethyia, Maya, Catalina and all the Careleton CCCE volunteers of Ruth's House!

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Ruth's House volunteer, email info.ruthshouse@gmail.com