From Employee to Volunteer: Liz Dixon’s Heart for the Community

If you’ve spent any time at Heart, Love & Soul over the last decade, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Liz Dixon. For Liz, this place is more than just a building—it’s family.

Liz first came to Heart, Love & Soul over eleven years ago, after the Head Start program she worked for closed. “I was looking for something new and happened to come across a position at HLS,” Liz recalls. She joined the team, working in what was then the Necessity Pantry, alongside Sister Beth, Sister Diane, and other dedicated staff. “Getting to know the clients—they were like family. We worked so closely together, and we were able to do a lot for people,” she says.

Those early years were filled with hands-on service: connecting guests with whatever resources they needed without hesitation, while also building genuine relationships. “I’d go around the dining room talking with everyone, learning their names and their stories. It made all the difference,” Liz remembers. She even recalls helping a guest shave his face in the front conference room before he took a shower—a memory that goes back to before our Daybreak program began. Liz has always brought a hands-on, full-hearted commitment to serving the people she cares for.

Even after leaving her staff position seven years later, Liz didn’t walk away. She’s now been a volunteer for four years, stepping in wherever she’s needed—during COVID, she helped pack pantry bags and distribute lunches, she’s a familiar face at our annual dinner, and most recently, she’s been stuffing backpacks with school supplies for children in the community.

This summer, Liz has been part of the team preparing school bags for families in need, ensuring each one is ready for parents to pick up before the school year begins. It’s work she finds deeply rewarding. “It’s about making sure kids start the year off right,” she says with a smile.

Ask anyone at Heart, Love & Soul, and they’ll tell you—Liz brings more than just her time. She brings warmth, humor, and a history with our guests that makes her an irreplaceable part of the family. She has a wit and spark that brighten our days. Whether it’s serving lunches, stocking shelves, or lending a hand at big events, Liz continues to embody the mission of Heart, Love & Soul: providing nourishment, shelter, and support to all who come through our doors.

For Liz, the work is simple: “You just get to know people, you treat them with dignity, and you help however you can. That’s what we’re here for.”