An outcome of the Vibrant Communities Action Agenda 2.0 report, Nappanee’s Downtown Master Plan aims to grow and revitalize its historic downtown district.
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Peterson Miller Doing Her Share
Local volunteer stresses finding simple ways to help those in need
“I got the idea of giving out gift cards to homeless and less fortunate people from Susan (Briner), over at Susanna’s Kitchen,” said Patty Peterson Miller, a Vibrant Communities spotlight volunteer. “It’s a local non-profit organization that has served and fed hungry people in Elkhart for more than 40 years. During Covid, when the kitchen was shut down, I would still go out there just to see Susan and check in on her and see how she was doing. I remember at one point she told me she was worried about the people—and what they would do for food—and she mentioned she was thinking about getting them $5 gift cards for McDonald’s; just so they could have somewhere to get something, anything, to eat.
I remember thinking what a great idea that was, and I started to think how I could do that, too. I’ve been helping out in my own ways over the years at places like Susanna’s Kitchen, Hope Ministries, and the women’s shelter at the YWCA. I live in Bristol, but now—wherever I am—if I see someone who looks like they could use some help I make sure to have gift cards ready to give out. I like to have gift cards for McDonald’s, and also for Martin’s Super Markets.
One great thing about the gift cards is that they give people the rare luxury of being able to choose something for themselves instead of being given something. Thankfully, there are resources for a lot of homeless people in our area, but there aren’t many opportunities for people in need to ‘choose’ something for themselves. With a gift card, people can have that rare luxury of treating themselves—whether it’s something they like to eat they haven’t had in a long time, or maybe a specific type of shampoo or a product they prefer to use. That option, to choose something for themselves; that goes a long way and can be very uplifting for someone who is down.
Giving out gift cards is a simple thing to do, and during the cold months of the year I think it’s extra helpful to people on the streets. Just having that card allows them to be inside of a place like a McDonald’s, where they can have some warmth, and get some food, and use the restroom. It’s easy for most people to take things like that for granted, but if you’re struggling and on the streets that gift card is going to help a lot.
Doing what she can do
I don’t know how or why I got so involved as a volunteer, why it matters so much to me. My parents were generous people but they weren’t involved this way. I’m just at a point where I realize the ways in which I can contribute, and I’m happy to do it. Nothing I do is big, I don’t have the funds to be giving out large amounts of money. But I’ve discovered that you don’t need to hand out bags of money to have a big impact. You just need to do what you can do.
I do what I can do, and that is a big part of how a community can learn to support its volunteer corps; to allow for people to help out in the ways and capacities that work for them.
Over the years I’d often go to places like Hope Ministries with my grandkids, and sometimes my great-grandkids, and hand out gift cards to people in need. One thing I’ve noticed is that, now, when I go somewhere with the kids they expect me to help someone who obviously needs it; and they often tend to initiate charitable actions all on their own. That is encouraging.
I’ve been involved in many community events that raise money for so many worthy causes in our area, but for me, my big thing has always been donating stuff; dropping off books and coats for people in need. That’s my specialty. There’s something about giving options to people with less, and the chance for them to get something specific they need.
There have been times I’ve been at the women’s shelter, and a woman there would need something specific—like a certain size of shoes, or a specialty item—and I’d go out to Goodwill and look for that specific item and bring it back. That’s one of my my unique ways of helping, and I’m glad to do it. It just feels good to help how you can, and it’s a good thing to do, and it doesn’t have to involve all that much to find simple ways to help.”
