Kendra Street, also known as the "Shoe Girl," first connected with the Salvation Army Thrift Store 17 years ago.
Street, who works for Missouri Farm Bureau, volunteered at the store during the United Way of Central Missouri's annual Days of Caring, which is intended to connect community employers and employees with the agencies the United Way supports.
"This was my project, and I loved it. And I've been a volunteer ever since," Street said. "It's my happy place."
On Friday, the second day of the annual event, Street could be found volunteering at the Thrift Store, but not as part of Days of Caring. She does it several days each week because she found out she loves the work.
"It's way cheaper than therapy," she said with a laugh. "I sort, pair, recycle and price a million pairs of shoes a year. I'm known as the Shoe Girl."
Her story is an example of what can happen when caring people in the community get an up-close look at the work the United Way's 28 partner agencies do.
Volunteers during the 2022 effort helped sort clothing and toys. They took summer clothes off racks and replaced them with autumnal wear. They prepared to begin placing Halloween products out in the shopping area.
A "mountain" of trash bags filled with clothing stood along one wall of the Thrift Store warehouse Friday. The clothing was set for recycling, according to Jeanne Brant, store manager.
Volunteers would load the bags on a truck later in the day, she said.
Earlier, volunteers sorted through boxes of holiday ornaments and decoration. Smartly, the store now uses see-through boxes so staff can tell what's inside, Brant said.
Lori Still, food services program coordinator for Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, said Days of Caring participants gathered at the nonprofit's new home, 1015 Edmonds St., and quickly set about sorting canned food, stocking shelves, assisting shoppers and bagging groceries in its food pantry.
The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri said the charity became its largest food distributor in the area shortly after opening the pantry early this year.
Still said the pantry's list of clients has ballooned in the past nine months from about 200 families to more than 600 each month.
The pantry is open four days a week for about three hours a day. Each day, it serves more than 70 households, she said.
Julie Smith/News Tribune
The second day of this year's United Way Days of Caring saw employees of Public Education Employee Retirement System of Missouri volunteer at Catholic Charities food pantry. Lisa Scheulen is shown here placing purchased items in a bag for the client to gather to take with them. This is the first year that the food pantry has been open in this location so it was a first time volunteer opportunity at the United Way partner agency.
Julie Smith/News Tribune
Kendra Street can't help but smile as she does something Friday that she loves, which is volunteering at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Street's first United Way Day of Caring was 17 years ago and she volunteered at the thrift shop. She enjoyed the opportunity and the feeling she got from it that she decided to come back again...and again...and again. Known as the "shoe girl" she sorts, pairs, recycles and prices shoes to put in the showroom for sale. Street works at Missouri Farm Bureau and really enjoys helping out at the United Way partner agency.
Julie Smith/News Tribune
Didi Veit of Central Technology Services volunteered Friday at the Salvation Army Thrift Store helping to sort clothing, straighten the racks and do whatever else she could to make more visually appealing displays. Friday was the second of two Days of Caring wherein employees of local companies or school students and faculty can volunteer at a number of United Way partner agencies.