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Claire Danielson, the new VOA Controller, is explaining about the Big Four: The four biggest accounting firms in the United States. They are Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and KPMG. "Big 4 accounting firms are some of the largest in the world and have vast amounts of resources to train their people. But they don’t seem to care about their people very much outside of training them." Claire grew up near Birmingham, then Dallas, Scottsdale, Tucson, Memphis, and finally back to Tucson. Her mom Carol consulted for drug companies, helping shepherd anti-malaria and HIV drugs through the FDA approval process. They moved where Carol’s job took them, and her Dad found work teaching photography. Before there was Claire the Public Accountant, there was young Claire, the girl who rode horses, earned Tae Kwon Do belts, read and re-read Harry Potter, and tried to make it work at a new school every couple of years. The middle-schooler who’d wear button-down sport coats one day and dress like a hippie the next. The teen who loved Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, where she finally made lasting friends and decorated her shoes or wore flashy ties to add flair to her standard-issue navy blue polo. At Arizona State University she leaned toward journalism and then pivoted to economics, which required her to take Accounting 101. “A professor told me I had a knack for it. I really like organization and a lot of order. To me, it’s kind of a puzzle.” After a year at the London School of Economics, learning in the heart of the UK’s Financial District, Claire transferred to University of Arizona in Tuscon and completed her Accounting degree. Claire started her accounting career at Make-A-Wish, where she discovered her passion for non-profit work. "It was such a wonderful work environment and good cause that I knew non-profit accounting is where I wanted to end up in my career. I went to my boss at the end of my internship and asked 'How do I get to where you are?' and she said to start at one of the Big 4 public accounting firms because of the world-class training I could get nowhere else." Over two years at Big Four companies opened her eyes. “When I went into Public Accounting, I had visions of working to advance democracy through accountability and the free market. But mostly, I worked for private companies, making rich people richer.” Claire found VOA last Spring, and continues to be amazed . “Every day my mind is blown at everything we do. I’ve learned about these big societal needs, and then another program we do to meet these needs. I learn about all the different ways we try to help.” As she moves up from Accounting Manager to Controller, Claire has big ideas . “I’d like to modernize us, make us more efficient and less dependent on paper, and improve our processes.” Moving out of the day-to-day work will give Claire the opportunity to work with CFO Jen Nobiling and VOA’s leadership on big picture goals, and integrate some of the tools and strategies she learned in the world of the Big Four. After all of her experiences, Claire now has one big priority: "To protect the people who need us the most.” - - - - Claire Danielson was recently promoted to serve as VOA’s Controller. Her story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

"I am humble because I’ve been there. My mom got WIC when we were kids. I’ve had just buttered noodles for dinner or chili all week. I understand.” Chris Hatch's mom, Balinda, had Chris when she was 15 years old. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Balinda dropped out of high school in ninth grade and Chris’ biological father disappeared shortly after she was born. Balinda did what she could to survive. “I counted once, and I think I went to 20 different schools in 12 years.” School was rough for Chris, but not just because of all the moving. Chris had undiagnosed dyslexia, which was not discovered until she was in 3rd grade when her family settled in with her stepdad. After the diagnosis, teachers helped her with learning strategies and later she made the Honor Roll in high school and graduated with honors from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Through it all, Chris’ Grams was always there. Consistent, caring, tough, and smoking two packs of Winston 100s a day. Chris and her mom would land at Grams’ house in-between apartments or houses, and she’d always check in on Chris to ask about school, college, plans, and dreams. After high school, Chris served as a volunteer firefighter and worked for her stepdad’s distribution company, where she excelled at logistics: getting important goods to those who need it, on-time every time, and overcoming challenges to do it. While going to college, Chris worked for PetSmart and rose to up to serve in management. In 2013, after Chris graduated with a degree in Social Work, Chris and her wife, Brandie, moved to Washington State. In 2016 Grams came to visit, and Chris and Brandie took her whale watching up in the San Juan Islands. Sadly, something wasn’t right. Grams looked frail and thin, weak. Two weeks after returning to St. Louis, Grams passed away. “I was devastated.” Chris wanted to make a change and go after that life of purpose that Grams used to ask about. Chris applied to a VOA position in Care Crisis, responding to chats from people struggling. As if Grams was guiding her, Chris was promoted quickly at VOA; she managed the North Sound 211 program before switching roles to lead VOA Hunger Prevention Services as Senior Director. “Food is number one. Everyone must eat every day. There’s nothing more important.” Chris’ experience as a people manager, distribution supervisor, social worker, and hungry child have given her the experience and tenacity to help her team overcome many obstacles during these unprecedented times, when our community needed food most. “I have always been a helper. And, I have been so moved by our volunteers, the people who dedicate hundreds of hours to feeding others.” - - - Chris Hatch serves as VOA’s Senior Director of Hunger Prevention. Her story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. “I could never imagine what some of my clients are going through. I just want to help.” Born and raised in Everett by a Bellevue Fire Chief father and police Evidence Technician mother, Abby Johansson grew up hearing about the dark and desperate side of life. Their jobs, she says, are likely the reason her parents gave back to the community. They showed compassion through volunteer work and donating Christmas gifts, and they expected the whole family to join in to help build character and learn selflessness. Abby says of her sons, age 12, 11, and 4, “Now, I am passing on the tradition of giving to them.” In 2015, Abby worked as a property manager for HNN Properties, which provides affordable housing. After four years, she quit to work in Seattle for a for-profit company but found the work daunting and disheartening. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced a layoff, she used the time to decide what move to make next. Remembering that she once used VOA for her HNN tenants, she applied to be a Homelessness Prevention Navigator, a position she has held since September 2020. Though Abby still works part-time as a property manager in Kenmore to help fund her college education – majoring in Criminal Justice – VOA is her full-time job. “Eviction used to be the go-to recourse for nonpayment of rent. But VOA has opened my mind to see what can be fixed and to advocate for alternative solutions. Without VOA there would be such a gap between crisis and funding. It connects the puzzle.” Today, Abby’s days are spent balancing up to 150 cases at one time and working as quickly as possible to secure funding for rent, connecting her clients with employment, and “...helping to break the cycle of helplessness. My goal is to find out if this issue is chronic, or what has led up to this, so I can leave them in a good place, whether it’s them standing on their feet or knowing they can call me back for support if they need it. I want them confident and secure when I close my case.” ----- Abby Johansson is a Homelessness Prevention Navigator and works in the new Housing Services division of VOAWW. Her story is featured as part of the #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. Working for VOA for the past 12 years I have been able to witness the wide range of services that VOA offers in the community. Before I started working at VOA I always wanted to have a career helping people. As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a firefighter, police officer, doctor, nurse or scientist. Several of my supervisors over the years have jokingly said my job description should just say “other duties as assigned”. This is because when I find out there is a new project, software or system that someone is struggling with, I find a way to help. I've become that person who works behind the scenes to ensure our frontline employees can do their jobs as efficiently as possible. The part I love most about VOA is how adaptive to the community this company is. A few years back there was a significant mud slide in Oso, and within hours staff got together to discuss what we could do to best support this community. VOA almost immediately had staff out helping residents with various trauma support. I love what I do and I love what we do. I am so happy to be part of the VOA family because we care and help others. ----- Jasan Winship is the Database Management and Donor Systems Administrator for VOA. His story is featured in our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana doing volunteer work in my early teens. I went to elderly neighbors' houses and did small things for them to help them out. Sweeping under beds, threading needles and cleaning the fridge out. I was offered money, but I never excepted. It was instilled in me to be helpful and it made me feel good to help them. I was working when the pandemic set in last year. Before I knew it, I found myself without a job and it was only a month later, that I started feeling depressed. Having volunteered with my granddaughter in 2019 for the Everett Fourth of July parade, I was on the email list for the VOA. The email came in at the perfect time for me, that the food bank needed volunteers and I jumped at the chance to be there and help. I told my husband Ron that I was going to volunteer and he said, put me down to do it too! We now get in at 8:00am four days a week. I started out as a shopper bringing food out to the clients. Now, my usual first job is putting the dairy bags together. Throughout any given day, I also put children’s snack pack bags together and the homeless bags too. I put dry boxes together and can always be found stocking something somewhere. I have always had a passion for volunteering, whether it is at a golf tournament, a tennis tournament or at the Everett animal shelter. I was taught growing up that you give back. Growing up, neighbors only a block away from us didn’t have what we had, so before Christmas each year, we would clean out our toy boxes and books to give to those neighborhood children. Last year I put in more than 1000 volunteer hours at the Everett Food Bank and I'm working on that goal this year too. I told my neighborhood that we would make it an annual event. Last year we donated almost 700 lbs of food. This year's goal is 1,200 lbs. Last year I put in more than 1,000 volunteer hours at the Everett Food Bank and I'm working on that goal this year too. I am glad to be volunteering at the Everett Food Bank, so much so, that I resigned from my job last month so I can continue helping others. Donna Thornberry's story appears here as part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. When my wife Donna said she was going to start volunteering at the Everett Food Bank last year, I told her to sign me up as well. I am known as the meat man. Every morning and all day long, I sort and bag meat to be given out to clients. Also, before I leave for the day, I make sure the bins are washed. I was born and raised in Silver Lake, South Everett. I started working on the docks in the 60’s and did so for 45 years. After retiring at 62, I started joining my wife Donna at the volunteer jobs that she took on. It feels good to do something for others. I don’t like sitting around. It is how I was raised. At a young age, I started working at my Dad's store. He raised me to help people who couldn’t help themselves. I volunteer at golf tournaments, youth football and most recently at our local little league t-ball. It is wonderful to be at the Everett Food Bank helping out. I logged just over 700 hours last year and don’t see why I can’t do the same this year. My hours spent there are truly fulfilling and I am happy to be there with my wife Donna. Ron Thornberry's story appears as part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

We are VOA. Ellie the potato puller. Ellie the Christmas Elf. Ellie the recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for the last nine years running. Ellie Behn grew up in the halls of VOA. She has volunteered with us since the age of four, when her mom, Dixie, began work here more than twelve years ago. Dixie says that without VOA, Ellie wouldn’t love service as much as she does. Ellie admits, “Asking me my favorite part of volunteering is like asking about a favorite child. But pulling potatoes was probably the most fun I’ve had.” Then, turning to her mom, “When can we do that again?” "That day was spent pulling potatoes and chasing voles,” Dixie says with a smirk. “She had a blast.” Both have spent their lives serving others, whether as a vocation or a volunteer. Dixie’s jobs in the court system, adult probation, and emergency dispatching often saw her helping the same people time and again, most of whom were struggling with chemical dependency and mental health. After ten years, her realization that these struggles “...were really a basic needs issue. Basic needs weren’t being met. I knew I had to be in a line of work that targeted the root cause of so much suffering.” After managing a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Everett for 10 years, everything suddenly changed when the facility closed. Without an income, Dixie sought help from VOA for rent and utilities. “It was about two months in when my case manager told me they were hiring for a receptionist. It was only ten dollars an hour, but it was something. And I knew I could make a difference.” She extended that belief to her children, repeating her mantra that one hour of service can change a life. With Ellie in tow, Dixie has changed positions throughout her tenure, each with progressive responsibility. Over those years, Ellie has volunteered in myriad ways from the Stuff a Bus event to the Meaningful Day Program to an annual tradition of acting as the VOA Christmas Elf. Dixie now serves as the Director of Property Management, while Ellie is entering her Senior year of high school with sights set on the University of Washington for a degree in clinical psychology, so she can return to VOA in our crisis services. Dixie says the future of VOA is full of opportunity. “With our leadership, the amount of ideas, the expansion, we are finding more ways to help and continue to grow. Too many still don’t know who we are, but I see so much possibility to reach more outlying communities and spread the mission.” For those who ask what our organization is about, she tries to offer a concise way to describe it. “I used to say, ‘We are a social services agency that assists the community through food banks, ECEAP preschool, dispute resolution, and go one to list everything we do. Now I say, ‘Wanna know what we’re about? Come volunteer with us.’” Chimes in Ellie, “We aren’t just a food bank.” Dixie and Ellie Behn have given of their time to VOA, Lake Stevens, and other Snohomish County communities to make them better places for having served. Their story is featured here as part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. I usually like dogs more than people. They’re not judgy. I’ve got Jake, who’s a mutt. And Oliver is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. I was born in Amarillo, Texas. We didn’t have a lot of money, and after I was born my Dad sold his ’57 Corvette to pay the hospital so they could take me home. Shortly afterwards, we moved to Washington. I spent 22 years in an aviation composites company. The first year I was on the production floor, but then I applied for an Accounts Receivable position. These three older women took me under their wing and taught me what I needed to know. That company was bought out a couple of years ago, and the new owners decided to centralize all accounting in California, so I lost my job. I got connected with VOA through a temp agency. Didn’t know anything about VOA, but this organization is like no other organization I’ve ever been in. The food bank, the rental assistance….it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I like seeing the donations come in. Since I started out at Christmas, it was amazing to see how much people care and give. I remember a gentleman walked off the street and handed us a $10,000 check for the Food Bank. I love the people here. Especially in this group. I feel very connected to them. Kathy Drew is one of the best trainers I’ve ever had. And Kris Stannert is just so patient. Everyone here is super nice. I do love my dogs, but I also love the people here. They are amazing. --- Chris Silverwood has served as the Accounts Receivable Specialist at VOA since December 2020. Her story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. Jessica Moore is a magician with cupcakes. She makes them for friends' and coworkers' birthdays: Lemon Raspberry, Lemon Blueberry, Churro, Chocolate Peanut butter, Strawberries and Cream, Lemon Lavender, Margarita, Peaches and Cream, White Chocolate Strawberry, Chocolate Cake with Cookie Dough frosting, Creamsicle, Root Beer float, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Salted Caramel, Maple Bacon, and Pina Colada. "If you can think of a flavor, I can probably turn it into a cupcake." Her wonderful brand of alchemy isn't limited to the kitchen. When Jessica’s son Xavier entered first grade, she decided she was ready to reenter the workforce. She took a contract position with a healthcare organization but wanted something more. “When I saw the job posting for VOA, I recall thinking that’s it, that is the job for me. I even remember telling my friends and family that it would be the perfect fit for me.“ Jessica interviewed and was hired in 2016 as part of the accounting and admin team. “I knew right away that this was where God wanted me to be, it just felt right.” When a position opened on the Development team, Jessica made the transition to fundraising. “This is the best team that I have ever been a part of. Everyone is hardworking, supportive, fun and quick with the cheesy dad jokes.” Now, she connects donors to causes they care about, helping to fund our food banks, preschools, Community Resource Centers, and many more VOA programs and services. Jessica loves baking and cooking, spending time gardening with her family and “.... doing anything crafty.” She hopes to move back to a more rural area with property for her 12-year-old son Xavier, husband Chris, her two lovable pit bulls Happy and Lucy, and their ever-expanding garden “....and goats! I really want goats!” “Through the pandemic I got to spend my days calling donors and expressing my gratitude for their generosity, listening to their stories and reasons for giving. It was such a blessing to me to get to have these conversations. It was uplifting and energizing." "VOA is doing so much good and has such an impact in our communities. It is about uplifting others, and that’s where I want to be.” --- Jessica Moore serves as the Director of Development as well as Lead Minister at VOA. If you become friends with her, she will probably make you cupcakes. Her story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. I just like to help people. It was just before my 7th birthday when my mom and I were driving home from school and a commercial came on the radio about collecting pajamas for foster kids. I remember asking my mom about foster kids and why they need pajamas. Right there in the car I decided, with my birthday a couple weeks away, I would ask my friends and family to buy pajamas that would be donated to kids in foster care instead of buying me presents. It was awesome! After that, I decided to do it every year. In 2016 my mom started working for VOA, and our family signed up to volunteer at Stuff-a-Bus to collect food, warm clothes, and gifts for families in need for Christmas. Even my grandma and grandpa volunteered with us. There was one donor that came out of the store with a shopping cart that was overflowing, and they gave us the whole cart. I was so surprised. I got to see how generous people can be, and that made me so happy. I am 12 now and about to start 7th grade. Over the last 5 years, I have volunteered with lots of different programs and learned a lot about our community. In fourth grade, my whole class came and spent the day doing art and having lunch with the people in the Meaningful Day Program. We loved it! My teacher Mrs. Gillette taught us about how we are all different, but inside all the same and we are all important. Helping people is what God wants us to do. What I want people to know is that you can make a difference. It doesn’t matter if you are old or young or rich or poor. You can make today better for someone just being kind. --- Xavier Clark is a longtime community volunteer. His story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

We are VOA. “Washington is home,” Mark Greaby says. Until June 2020, long hours at work and difficult schedules prevented him and his wife Sally from volunteering as much as they would have liked, so they agreed to give of their time in their retirement, extending the volunteer spirit that has defined their lives. One of four children -- three by the time her own mother was 19 -- Sally remembers moving often, playing “beat the landlord” while growing up in San Diego. She remembers their trips to local food banks. Still, her mom found ways to give back, whether through March of Dimes or making stuffed animals for children and seniors. “She always showed us time. Not money.” While her children were young, Sally regularly made quilts, volunteered at their schools, and donated whenever possible, carrying on her mom's legacy. Now, she serves at the food bank once a week, Clothes for Kids two days a week and with a quilting group making quilts/pillowcase and catheter bags for charity. Mark’s father, a banker, often acted “....outside the norm of the banking community. He was President of the Portland YMCA, a member of the Rotary Club, and a part of the inner city community.” Mark’s family was involved with church, and he learned early on that “...if you can help someone, help them,” which is how he approaches his Mondays at the VOA food bank on Broadway. He does “...a little bit of everything. Helping set up, sorting, bagging foods, and loading boxes,” but he also doesn’t mind “...bending the ‘normal’ to help different people with different needs.” The Greabys are a team, working at VOA drive-through pantries and in our food banks, and on this day, they've brought their 13-year-old grandson Chad with them. “You need to see that not everyone can go to the grocery store,” she tells him. Plus, staying active and feeling good helping others is its own reward, so they’d like to recruit other retirees to get involved with volunteering. “We might not be able to give thousands of dollars, but we can give our time.” --- Sally and Mark Greaby are committed VOA volunteers. Their story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.

I am VOA. I had a window when I first started, over in the Broadway building. When I interviewed at VOA, I was so nervous. I had to start all over after 23 years at my previous job managing call centers. So, I went to Everett Community College, got my Associate in Technical Arts degree, and took a class in accounting. I saw an ad and applied, and I started as the Accounts Receivable Specialist at VOA on May 29th, 2007. When the Accounting Department moved over to the Lombard building, I got these big windows that look out onto California Street. In February of 2016, our Controller Jenn promoted me to Revenue Accounting Specialist, but I had to move to the other side of the office. She felt bad that she took my windows away, so she gave me this one of the ocean. I was just promoted to Contract Compliance Manager, and I’m staying here, with these big windows. But we’re growing, so I’ll need to share my office, which is just fine. I love the people. Everybody seems to be always in a good mood. And, I love what we do. - - - After 15 years in VOA’s Accounting Department, Kris Stannert was recently promoted to Contract Compliance Manager. Her story appears here as a part of our #IAmVOA campaign.