Van and Theresa’s Story
At CROSS Services, during Hunger Action Month, we are focusing on The Power of ONE—how one act of kindness, one gift, or one hour of time can ripple out to change lives. For more than a decade, Van and Theresa, a husband-and-wife team, have been demonstrating what that looks like, week after week, through their volunteer work.
When Van and Theresa first came to Minnesota from North Dakota 13 years ago, they were looking for new connections and a way to give back. Theresa remembers,
“Starting over to find new friends and connections was a challenge. Someone suggested CROSS Services, so I started in reception back when clients had to make appointments, and each client had a paper folder in the file cabinet. Since then, there have been many changes.”
That one choice to volunteer at CROSS Services’ Front Desk has turned into years of greeting families with compassion and connecting them to the support they need. As Theresa puts it,
“Clients have a limited income with priorities: first is housing, then utilities, possibly a car and insurance, medical care, and medicines. Food gets pushed down their list of priorities. CROSS Services and other food shelves provide help to feed so many families that experience hunger.”
Van, on the other hand, has become our resident “fix-it guy.” From patching sidewalks to installing an intricate PVC pipe system in the utility room, each project he takes on—one repair at a time—helps keep CROSS Services running smoothly for the families we serve. Volunteering, he explains, is just part of who he is,
“Maybe because I have led an almost charmed life, it feels like it’s a necessity to give back and be part of a larger community. Back in the small community of Lisbon, North Dakota, that’s the way things got done—everyone helping out, volunteering.” And with a laugh, he adds, “My wife made me do it! Actually, Theresa only suggested that help was needed with sorting organics, and they could use my help.”
What keeps them coming back after all these years? For Theresa, it’s both the joy of helping others and the friendships she’s made along the way,
“I encourage others to get involved as it gives a volunteer that feeling of helping others. For me, it also gives me an additional network of friends.”
Their one commitment—to show up and serve—has grown into a meaningful connection to the community.
For Van, the word that comes to mind is fun,
“Yes, time at CROSS Services is work, but also interesting, definitely fulfilling, helping others, and a great place to meet people with similar interests. The fun part is kidding around with coworkers, seeing the delight in children’s faces when they receive a new school backpack, hearing a ‘thank-you’ from a client as they shop, or, for me, being able to repair an equipment problem. Everyone has talents to offer at CROSS Services.”
Each moment he invests reminds us how small actions combine to make a big difference.
Together, as a husband-and-wife team, Van and Theresa have given thousands of hours of their time. Each smile, each repair, each conversation embodies The Power of ONE, leaving families fed, supported, and treated with dignity.
Van and Theresa remind us that one person’s time, given with love, can change countless lives. That’s The Power of ONE.
What’s your ONE?
Every day, families in our community are forced to make impossible choices between food, housing, and other essentials. Together we can change that story—one person, one commitment, one lifeline at a time. Take action today and commit to CROSS Services!
