My first experience volunteering with Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries (NCM) came during the 2021 Christmas season. I had stumbled across a call for volunteers to assist with their holiday gift event for families in need. Expecting a small, simple project, I arrived alone—ready to help for a couple of hours. Instead, I stepped into a massive, beautifully coordinated effort staffed by hundreds of volunteers from churches all across the area.
I was paired with another volunteer—also named Jacque, spelled just like mine—and together we spent hours fulfilling wish lists from an abundant “market” of donated toys, games, and clothing. Helping children receive Christmas gifts and serving shoulder-to-shoulder with believers from many congregations filled me with a deep joy I knew I wanted to experience again.
Later, when I attended the JCBC Mobilization Fair and stopped at the NCM table, that memory resurfaced. I felt drawn to return—and eventually committed to serving in their clothing ministry. Having worked for years as a speech pathologist in the Norcross area, I knew firsthand the needs of families in that community. Now, in retirement, giving back to the very place I once served professionally feels especially meaningful.
Under the leadership of JCBC’s own Judy Ward, the clothing ministry is organized with great care. Volunteers sort and prepare clothing so that Judy and others can spend more time interacting with clients—listening, encouraging, and helping them shop. I love that NCM’s clothing ministry is structured to maintain dignity: families can “shop” at no cost, choosing items based on their needs and personal preferences within a clear, fair system. The process ensures that every family has access to what they need, without judgment and without financial burden.
“What I thought would be a small volunteer gig became a deeply meaningful act of service.”
For me, NCM’s ministries reflect the very heart of the gospel described in Matthew 25. My hope is that every client who walks through their doors experiences the genuine care and compassion of Christians who are committed to meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
Volunteering weekly has also shaped my own spiritual formation. It keeps generosity in front of me—not just generosity with money, but generosity with time. Everyone has a resource they guard closely; for me, that resource has always been time. But having a regular rhythm of service has helped me grow in releasing that to God. I’m grateful to have found a place where giving my time both blesses others and deepens my walk with Christ.
