From Shelter to Stability
CARITAS Volunteer Lenora Hicks
December 26, 2010
Society often labels December as the season of giving sometimes forgetting the need for giving almost always goes beyond this month. Fortunately, there is one person who has made giving and service to others her life’s work- twelve months out of the year and her name is Mrs. Lenora Hicks. It has been sixty-two years and counting and Mrs. Hicks has devoted herself to the care and concerns of those who have fallen on hard times and could use a helping hand. Mrs. Hicks, a member of Second Baptist Church, on Iddlewood Ave, Richmond, where the Pastor is James Henry Harris, D.Min., Ph.D. not only has done mission work for her church, she also has been a key volunteer for CARITAS for twelve of those years.
Accordingly, up to 80 clients at a time have arrived at her church, where they soon are picked up and transported to a shelter. While waiting, the clients are served with not only hot chocolate, coffee or a snack they are served with genuine care from volunteers led by Mrs. Hicks, so that their stop on this journey from homelessness to stability is a very positive one.
This past December Mrs. Hicks was honored at a special church service for her unwavering faith, her love of her church family and the desire to help her fellow man. Director of CARITAS Shelter, Edward Judkins was on hand to also publicly express sincere gratitude and appreciation for her wonderful work and commitment. “She is firm, but faithful and she captures the essence of intake- the ministry of fellowship,” said Judkins.
Mrs. Hicks is a prime example of how volunteering is ageless and can make such a difference in the lives of so many. A native of Powhatan, her professional career has been a beautician, what a fitting profession for such a beautiful lady. “Mission has always been my life’s work and I feel that it is my calling, she said.