volunteer spotlight

Every so often, we like to highlight some of our organzation's wonderful volunteers. This month, we're happy to introduce you to Elizabeth Walker.



What is your name? Elizabeth Walker
Where do you live? Lititz, Pennsylvania in a cottage in a retirement home.
What is your profession? I’m retired, though previously I was a dental hygenist, I owned a bed and breakfast, and I owned a men’s tie business where I sold handmade wool ties.
How long have you been a fresh art volunteer? About a year or two.
What type of volunteer work do you do for fresh art? I began by knitting and crocheting hats and scarves for the sock monkeys for about a year, and then Executive Director Suzanne Kreps (who is also my cousin) asked me to work on some monkeys that were not finished. We call it “the monkey hospital.” Now I’ve made at least 50 sock monkeys from scratch.
What is your favorite thing about volunteering with fresh art? I really enjoy doing it. I’m kind-of homebound and I gave up my car and I’m a little stuck here, so I can really say that monkeys are doing me more good than I’m doing the monkeys. The very day I learned I had a health problem, Suzanne [Kreps] called to say "I’m sending you monkeys." It was very providential that I got involved in it. I just have a lot of fun, and they make me laugh. And anyone who comes in here and sees the monkeys laughs, too.
Do you have any other hobbies? I garden and I really love to cook. I do a lot of creative cooking. I’m a designer. I did interiors for a while. I also like to read a lot, and I’m very involved with my library here.