Volunteer spotlight: Wendy McNarney
Wendy devoted her career to educating youth and young adults as a high school English and math teacher at Lawrence North. In 2019, Wendy retired from teaching but her longing to pour into young people remained. She was determined to figure out how to best use her experience and time to serve others in the community.
First, she connected with Pastor Nicole Caldwell-Gross at her church, St. Luke’s UMC, to see how she could use her gifts to serve others. She began serving older adults through church and it was a wonderful opportunity, and rewarding, but she longed for something more. Soon she realized that her passion was to reengage with the youth and young adults that she had poured her heart into for 28 years as an educator.
It wasn’t long before Wendy shifted her focus back to youth and young adults and got connected to Outreach. Wendy along with her friend Lisa, began their volunteer experience by preparing food bags that were personally delivered to our young people as part of the weekly food delivery program.
In addition, Wendy expanded her role to include serving in the donation center after her delivery route was completed. She loves working with Elaine and Jane, some of the other volunteers in the donation center as well. Most significantly she cherishes the interactions with the youth and young adults.
Wendy’s passion to serve goes beyond Outreach as she spends time serving at Crooked Creek Food Pantry, working part-time at her husband’s business, walking with her two dogs and being a mom. Wendy is also the proud of mother of Ryan, her son who works at Geist elementary and her daughter, Maddie, who is a freshman at Purdue.
Thank you, Wendy, for continuing your desire to serve and pour into our youth and young adults as a volunteer at Outreach!