March 4, 2021

A Perfect Fit: EveryStep Giving Tree Volunteer Glenda Pohlpeter

When Glenda Pohlpeter retired, she no longer felt that she was needed.
 
Not only had she left her job at the State of Iowa, but her son, who she saw nearly every day, was in a new relationship and didn't make it for dinner quite as often.
 
"I was sitting around not doing much," she said.
 
Then one day, she found EveryStep Giving Tree thrift store while shopping with a friend.
 
"They needed volunteers and I thought 'I could do that,'" she recalls. "The people there were nice and the store was clean. It was a great opportunity."
 
And with that, Glenda became a volunteer at EveryStep Giving Tree, where she's been helping since 2017.
 
"I'm kind of a jack of all trades," she said. "I sort and price, I steam clothes, I work the register. Whatever is needed, I do."
 
In fact, Glenda has also volunteered to help the store with computer work, by tracking volunteer hours when she's not occupied with other tasks.
 
She's also helped to create one-of-a-kind items for the store. When EveryStep Giving Tree receives donations of fabric and material they can't sell, Glenda will take them home and use them for crafts. She then brings the aprons and pet bandanas back to the store where they are sold.
 
While Glenda has enjoyed her time at EveryStep Giving Tree, it's not the work that keeps her coming back, it's the people.
 
"It's really fun to volunteer here," she said. "The people are wonderful and it's for such a good cause, it makes you feel good."

If you're interested in volunteer opportunities with EveryStep Giving Tree thrift store, visit our website and complete our volunteer application.