How Can I Help? Meet Jim Boyd - one very valuable volunteer ...

For some people, retirement means slowing down, taking it easy, and focusing on recreational activities. Not so for Jim Boyd, a retired attorney and insurance industry veteran, who continues to volunteer his time in too many ways to count on one hand. For a number of years, Jim has been a regular face in CRIS’s Sinclair Road office, where he frequently stops in to drop off essential items he and his wife have collected for Welcome Kits, sets of basic goods that will act as the foundation for a newly arrived refugee’s first home in the United States. On a recent afternoon, we met Jim for a cup of coffee to thank him for his generosity. He greeted us in style - wearing an apron from his weekly volunteer shift at the Holy Family Soup Kitchen.We were hoping to learn a bit about Jim’s experience as a CRIS volunteer. Instead, we learned an even more valuable life lesson: how to recognize needs and resources and be the bridge that connects them.

In addition to his dedication to CRIS, Jim has shared his energy with the Holy Family Soup Kitchen for more than twenty years.  He serves as an ombudsman for Catholic Social Services, visiting residents at the Villa Angela Nursing Home. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, the YMCA, and the local chapter of RSVP, Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Through his passion for helping others, he connects people.  When the Furniture Bank received a large number of dressers that needed to be put together, he got together a group from Habitat for Humanity and another group from the men’s club at Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, where Jim has been an active member and vocal advocate of social justice projects.  Not only did he feel good about doing the work, Jim smiled, “I learned a lot about furniture-making!” Jim is not bashful about his belief in the importance of helping those who are less fortunate.  He recently asked his church’s men’s group to make a donation to CRIS, which they did in his honor.  He mentioned that they had wanted to spend some of the money on a sweetheart dinner for Valentine’s Day.  “It’s more important to help refugees get set up in a new home than to entertain ourselves with a nice dinner,” he said. His cohorts agreed.Jim lamented the difficulty of finding enthusiastic volunteers for social justice work.  “Over the years, I’ve tried to get people involved in doing the work. Most of the time, they would rather give money than time.”  We discussed the possibility that this occurs because donations of one’s time and talent require more effort and create a greater emotional connection to those in need than just writing a check.  The reward of providing direct assistance - the satisfaction and human connection, we agreed, is far greater than the effort expended.As we parted, we wished Jim a happy birthday - he will be 84 years young this week.  In return, we received a warm handshake and a set of dishes for a family that will soon arrive in Columbus. They will likely never meet Jim Boyd, but they will benefit from his kindness, and he is happy to know he has been of assistance.