(GRESHAM) — Jim and Tari Card are quite the couple. Of their 41 years of marriage, the couple has spent 12 of them volunteering for the community they were raised in.
The idea to volunteer with SnowCap Community Charities came from an experience years before their volunteering endeavor when they recalled bagging onions for the organization.
The two were "Eastside kids"— both raised in Gresham — and, as retirement approached, they wanted to find a way to give back locally.
It started with working in the pantry doing store pickups, and now Jim Card is serving as chair on the board. Between the two, they work on special projects throughout the year, help in the pantry and manage the hygiene products.
"We just do a little bit of everything," Tari Card said. "Basically, whatever they need, we'll help, we'll help."
Card said she's had her fair share of tears while volunteering. Those tears continued when she found out they were nominated as Amazing Neighbors.
"We are so fortunate as a couple. We know we have our meals every day, we know if we're cold, we can turn on the heat, and all of that," she said. "Unfortunately, we have a lot of clients we serve every month that don't have that."
Those clients who don't know if food is coming or if they will have enough clothes for their families have to choose between basic necessities.
"It just touches my heart when we give them what they need," Card said.
According to The Cards, SnowCap is a lifeline to the community. Tari Card said she can't imagine having to make the choices their clients do.
They recounted tear-jerking stories of feeding a man who hadn't eaten in two days because he was giving all his food to his wife battling cancer. Another story involved a family they helped clothe, finally being able to afford a Christmas tree for the first time.
However, the opportunity to volunteer is mutually beneficial. While they help those in need, Jim and Tari Card find fulfillment. It's given them a place to share all the skills they've acquired in life up to this point.
Jim Card said, "It has given us purpose. It's really been life-changing for us."
Card said the organization shows its clients dignity and respect, which is a culture they appreciate. SnowCap serves about 14,000 clients a month, but he said it still feels like everyone is family.
Tari Card said, "They don't care who you are or what you look like. If you say you're hungry, we'll get you some food. Their whole goal is to provide the needs of our clients. And how they treat their volunteers is the same way; they don't take us for granted."
Their hope for the future is to continue serving their community members as they have been. After "floundering" for a few years into retirement before upping their commitment to SnowCap, the couple has found a way to spend time that is "personally rewarding."
Jim Card said with a chuckle, "Of course, everybody hopes that SnowCap wouldn't have to be here because people would be fed and clothed."
But moving forward, he wants to help inform the community that SnowCap exists. New people are coming in all the time seeking help.
As new clients become reliant on SnowCap, he hopes more people—particularly younger folks—take an interest in volunteering. Having frail older volunteers attempting to lift 25-pound boxes of food isn't ideal, but they manage.
Tari card added, "If everybody does a little, it adds up to a lot."
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