Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Winkley

When Nancy Winkley started volunteering at Gather, she was wearing a mask. It was 2020 and COVID was rampant. She tried a couple of other roles with Gather before finding her way to the annex where she now spends three days a week loading trucks for the mobile markets, moving and sorting pallets full of food, and whatever else has to be done.  

“I build pallets of milk, eggs, dried goods, etc., depending on what’s on hand and the time of year. Whatever is needed,” Nancy says. Of the physical work, she says, “It’s like working out at the gym but doing it for a great cause. It’s not easy, it’s hard, but it’s good hard.” 

That attitude is part of the reason Nancy was Volunteer of the Month in November. In response to the comment that Gather is lucky to have her, she refers to luck of her own. 

“On a very basic level I feel like a very blessed person and I think people who are blessed should give back,” Nancy says. “I heard good things about Gather, signed up to check it out, liked what I saw and decided to volunteer.” 

Calling the camaraderie exceptional, she says the people she works alongside make the job easy. 

“Whistle as we work is how it’s done,” Nancy says. “It’s hard work but it’s fun; the people are great.” 

She recounts finding a Christmas bag for her left by one of the Gather employees in response to Nancy telling her on Dec. 1 that her reign was over. Inside the bag was a tiara. 

“So of course I wore it all day. It was such a little thing but it brightened my morning. That’s what it’s like to volunteer here,” Nancy says.