Could You Be the Next Joe?

Or Gisselly or Andy or Laura or Ann? The Contributor seeks volunteers

Many volunteers come to The Contributor the best way: They’ve bought a newspaper from a vendor and they want to know how they can help the organization.

Joe First, a music teacher turned Contributor volunteer, is not an exception. In 2011, he met a vendor near the

By Amanda Haggard and Chelsea Jackson

McDonalds on Broadway. He read the paper and started to look for ways to get involved. He saw his chance when he saw the paper was conducting a reader survey. He completed the survey and checked the box saying he would be willing to help as a volunteer in the future. After more than 12 years (and with the distinction of being one of the longest serving volunteers), First is retiring.

“One of the things that I've noticed over 12 years is seeing people coming to us for the first time, distrustful. You can see whatever weight was on their shoulders, and watching that kind of come off and away from that and for them to develop trust with us,” First says. “And I just, you know, that’s almost like the biggest payback in a way, to have these relationships with them. I’ve always volunteered my entire adult life, but that part of The Contributor has always felt really the most special.”

First and others volunteer for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. shifts in The Contributor’s vendor office — their commitment allows vendors to see a familiar face and for staff at The Contributor to focus on housing programs and services. First started off unloading the newspapers on paper release days and then, when he could commit to a regular shift, came in for at least two shifts a week, often covering for other folks and filling in where needed. The basic job is working the desk and computer where vendors come to buy their papers.

As First retires and moves closer to family and to live in a retirement community in Florida, staff and vendors of The Contributor are hoping to fill his shoes.

Folks working in the office like to say a lot of magic happens there. It can be difficult, but each day is different.

“The toughest part is there can be very sad days,” First says. “The rate at which we see some of our friends go that