The ‘rock’ among volunteers

Picture it: Christmas 2006. Sue Werkheiser and her friend felt moved to spend some time giving back to their community by volunteering at the East Stroudsburg, Pa., Corps toy shop.

Thankfully, 13 years later, and motivated by the spirit of God, Werkheiser is still there and has been front and center as a volunteer during COVID-19.

“I just love Sue,” says Candi Miller, assistant food pantry/volunteer director. “She’s like the Bayada Nurse commercial; she’s always here—no matter what. She’s our true north.”

“I like people,” Werkheiser says. “We’re like a family here and work together to feed people. There are people who come in for emergency food who are distraught and at their lowest.

Werkheiser especially enjoys working with retired Major Mary Tregellas who prays with and consoles people who come in while Sue fills out the paperwork and gathers their food.

“She fills their souls and I fill their bellies,” says Werkheiser.

“Sue works from the heart,” says Jill Brink, food pantry/volunteer director. “Throughout this pandemic, Sue shows up without hesitation, every single day to make sure the hungry get fed. That’s not only dedication, that’s compassion. She embraces our mission of ‘Doing the Most Good’ and lives it, without fail, walking in the footsteps of God.”

Miller couldn’t agree more and adds, “Sue’s on it. She makes our jobs less stressful just by being the rock that she is, which now, more than ever, is exactly what we need.”

When asked if she was nervous or hesitant to continue volunteering during the governor’s recent shelter in place mandate, without missing a beat, Werkheiser simply says, “Not even for a second. I’ve been blessed, so I need to bless others.”

by Cari Friend