Jill Ulle on Giving Back, Building Community & Welcoming Families at CARES

In this episode of Opening Doors, Annette Compo sits down with Jill Ulle, a CARES volunteer whose warmth, enthusiasm, and compassion help make the Campus of Hope feel welcoming to everyone who walks through the door.

Jill shares how she first discovered CARES through a television segment and immediately felt inspired to volunteer. After signing up and attending orientation, she found the sense of purpose and community she had been searching for.

Annette and Jill also discuss the strong community among CARES volunteers, the importance of treating every client with dignity, and how even a small amount of time can make a meaningful difference for local families.

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It only takes about a minute to begin your volunteer sign-up at CARESfh.org/volunteer.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Hi, it's Annette Compo with Opening Doors. Today I get the proud opportunity to introduce my new guest, um, Jill Eulie. Thank you. I'm so happy to be here. Jill, I am super excited. I actually just met you what, three, four weeks ago? Yes. Yeah. So we're walking through CARES and um I came across your personality and I was like, oh my gosh, this is my soul sister, right? Just full of excitement and enthusiasm. And of course, once again, thank you so much for being a volunteer here at CARES, the campus of hope. Um, so tell us how you got intertwined with CARES.

SPEAKER_00 0:42

Oh, it was, I I know, and I absolutely love it here. It has been two years, and I remember I was at a previous job, and in my life, I I had the part-time job, but I felt a void. I wanted to give back. I just I feel so blessed in my life, and I just was trying to find where I could use my heart and help people that are not as fortunate. And oh thank you. So I was at, I was watching the TV, I think I was having lunch, and there was a segment on Fox 2, like their morning show, and it just resonated with me. And I immediately went back to my computer and I typed in and signed up for to be a volunteer. And then I came and they did like the orientation, and I just first of all walked in to the campus and I felt a warmness in my heart. I just and I looked at all the people and I'm like, oh, I'm so glad I did this.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

So that's how it started. Yeah, they say they walk in and it feels just like a family, it's a community within a building. Definitely, right? And so, and it's personalities like yours, right? That that get exposed wherever, if it's the radio or the TV or from a friend or a neighbor, and you walk in the door, and it it's so um uplifting for me because our clients that come in, right? Definitely, every one of the volunteers understand the the respect factor, the compassion factor, the humility and love, and and just really understand what why that's so important for our clients to experience. And and you're that. Oh, right. Thank you. And so when I met you, you know, weeks ago, I was like, I should actually said to you, I need to have you on my podcast because I'm just oh my god, and you were scared. And I said, nope, there's just gonna be two girls talking about something that we are aligned with the same passion with the mission and vision of really kind of coming from contribution and impacting people that are most vulnerable in our community. Definitely. So tell me a little bit about what you do. Obviously, you come into CARES for your shift.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

I came into CARES and I know we all sat down and they explained all the different areas that we could volunteer for. And the I kept looking at the corner of my eye, there's the office, and I kept seeing clients walking in and talking to the volunteers, and I'm like, that is what I want to do. I want to be face to face, I want to interact with them, I want to get to know them. So that and that was intake. So that is like the one thing that kind of the only thing I just felt that is where I want to use. It was a calling. It was a calling. And I am so grateful I did that because I just love it. I love to meet the clients that just to see their faces and to help all different kinds of people. I mean, all there's no typical client at cares, you know, they come, there's seniors that are on fixed income, there are families, there's individuals, and any of us are one step away with from vulnerability in our lives. And so just to be able to greet them with a smile and listen to them, and everybody is so grateful. And in the same, and I see so many of the same similarities as when I walked in. This place is wonderful, everybody's so nice, and people have cried. And even I answer the phones a lot, and they're like, God bless you, God bless you, thank you. And so it just makes you feel like you are making a difference, you know, just even little bits of that. So that's what I do is you know, check, get to know them, register them, and guide them through the whole process of how to shop, you know, through our different, you know, through the groceries and well, you're that almost, you're that first person they see, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:34

So people buy people before they ever buy a property. Exactly. Exactly. Before you even ask for help. Oh, sure. And when they have that experience with you, that is just such a deep experience because they're at their most vulnerable, right? And they're most vulnerable, they don't know where to turn, they don't know who to trust, and then they get you, which is incredible opportunity. And then what ends up happening is it's then when they um, you know, share that story, and it's a pride of sharing that story with somebody else that also is vulnerable. Um, and they're like, Well, let me tell you how Jill took care of me, right? And that's really the duplication that here at CARES. Um, so you've met people, other volunteers.

SPEAKER_00 5:15

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

So do you guys go out after your shifts?

SPEAKER_00 5:20

Or I would love to. I have connected with so many. Everybody is just so kind. And I haven't, but I absolutely would go out with them. Okay. Like it's like I know there's a group that does, and so that's why it was they're going out for dinner. Oh, that would be so fun.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Yeah, and so I think that it just kind of really resonates with me because I remember walking on this campus the first time before you know we even were realizing that this was going to become a pantry and in where it is today after you're close to going on seven years. And we um we we had this feeling, like it was just something that overcame that you just felt at home. Yes. And I always say the people that come and and volunteer, the people that give back, if it's just dropping off donations, they get that feeling, right? So it's almost like it feeds their soul by helping other people in their stomachs. Absolutely. And I love that, you know, and it's just very universal knowing that the the community is here to support, you know, the less fortunate.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

Definitely. And I know then and that's the one common thread, of course, that all the volunteers have. We're all here for the same reason, right? And so it is so nice to connect and learn, you know, meet new personalities and just it is, it's great. And to share stories. We love to share, you know, the the great stories that we we uh get to learn from from our clients, right?

SPEAKER_01 6:43

You know, it really well because they feel they feel so um um safe. You you provide that safe space for them. And when people get that safe space, they ultimately just open up their hearts and they share what's bothering them, right? Yes, and then what they're able to overcome faster because you've been able to lift them up. Because when you lift people up, even in their most vulnerable time, it gives them energy to be able to go out and propel them into their solution, in the long-term solution, because obviously feeding them does eliminate one of the biggest concerns, right? Food scarcity is is it's scary for people, definitely. Um, you know, and so when we eliminate that from their life, then they're able to really kind of lift themselves up and propel in that right direction.

SPEAKER_00 7:29

So like to focus on something else, and even like the young moms that just to be able, like you know, to give them some diapers and wipes, just the basic things that so so many people take for granted. And it's just to see the smiles on their face. And I've had clients too that come and like feel ashamed that they're here. And I try to, you don't be ashamed. I like I tell them I anybody can be. We all fall on hard times, so it's just there's nothing, you know, just to make them feel it's great. It's you're it's positive that you came here, you're helping yourself, and it's so, and I know we have had just even yesterday, I had two new clients, but that came with a a current client, they brought them in. So it was really nice. Yes, it was very comfortable.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

And they and they could walk them through what experience they were gonna have by by going and meeting with you. Well, thank you once again for being a volunteer at CARES. And if you're looking at being a Jill coming in right after hearing her on here, please go on to our website and register to come in, and she'll be there to greet you with a great big smile. And um, if you're looking at your business and you want to run an event for CARES, um fundraising, um, please reach out to us. Or if you're just looking at someone that wants to drop off food or possibly really engage with us high level, because here at CARES, the campus of hope, we literally are fighting suburban hunger. Thank you again until the next episode.