Ines Campusano is a longtime volunteer at the Spanish Catholic Center, part of Catholic Charities DC’s family of programs. She has been named a finalist for Catholic Charities USA’s Volunteer of the Year Award. The award winner will be announced April 24 at the conclusion of National Volunteer Week.
CCUSA 2020 Volunteer of the Year Finalist, Ines Campusano
© Catholic Charities USA>; reprinted with permission
Ines Campusano volunteers at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington within the Spanish Catholic Center’s food distribution program. She has been volunteering with Catholic Charities in different capacities for more than 15 years.
Every Wednesday, Campusano arrives to the center along with other volunteers to receive a food order from the Capital Area Food Bank — mostly fresh produce and a few non-perishable items. Campusano unloads boxes and organizes the food. If there is any chopping or sorting that needs to be done, she takes the initiative to get the other volunteers organized.
Campusano is incredibly kind and gentle when motivating others who may be volunteering for the first time. She has an incredible amount of patience, especially when coordinating some of our younger high school volunteers. It is an intergenerational community of volunteers that make the food distribution program run.
After the food is sorted and organized, Campusano and the other volunteers create 100 bags of food that are given to families in need.
She has built a warm relationship with many of clients and treats them with the utmost respect. She continually teaches us the importance of prioritizing kindness and joy in our everyday work.