The Earring Lady

When I began working at St. Anthony’s 8 months ago the first thing that stood out to me was the incredible dedication of volunteers.  I couldn’t believe there were so many people who had been volunteering for 10 to 25+ years, some have been here longer then I’ve been alive!  The love and compassion volunteers have for guests and each other is palpable.  Last year Dining Room Volunteers gave over 47,000 hours of their time, working out to about 23 full time staff.

Last week I got a chance to interview one of St. Anthony’s incredible volunteers.  Melanie she has been volunteering for over 11 years.  She first came seeking structure during her alcohol recovery, “when I started here I just had a couple months sober…I met some of the people (in recovery), some work here now…  its helped me to stay sober because I can talk with people about recovery….just being here reminds me there are places I can go”.

While recovery has defined her personal relationship with the organization, it is her collection of colorful novelty earing that guests remember her for.  In her time at St. Anthony’s she has been affectionately dubbed the “Earing Lady”.   It is a title she proudly touts, “I only wear them in the day time here, but people expect me to wear them all the time”.  When I asked Melanie what happens if she doesn’t wear them, she replied, “Oh! People freak out! People freak out, I’ve done it twice in eleven years.  They want me to go home and find some.”   On the day I interviewed her, she was wearing a pair of pink elephants, “when people ask me about my earrings I say, what pink elephants?”  She is able to use something small and insignificant to most, to put a much needed smile on guest’s faces.

Melanie is one of hundreds of amazing people that dedicate their time to St. Anthony’s.   In my short time here I have learned that St. Anthony’s literally runs on the kindness of volunteers.