He's more than just a volunteer. In fact, staff members at The Goodwill Inn homeless shelter say Chuck Daniels of Traverse City is an inspiration for those in need.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Chuck Daniels is a retired school teacher who taught students for 40 years, but for the past two years he's been volunteering here at the Goodwill Inn in Traverse City.
"When I retired I wanted to stay active, contribute something back to the community. I looked for something that would be rewarding and challenging," says Daniels.
Volunteering his time three days a week at the inn, Daniels does pretty much anything that's needed of him.
"Anything that we need done from cleaning the floors to going grocery shopping, he does the laundry, paperwork. He even answers the phone for us when the office gets overwhelmed. He does yard work, cleans windows anything you want him to do and he's happy to do it," says operations manager Shawn Weber.
"I've worked in the pantry, I run errands. I help with resumes, yard work. Whatever needs to be done I try to help," says Daniels.
He doesn't think he deserves recognition. In fact, he's very modest and says he gives his time in hopes of making a difference.
"The motto here is homeless to wholeness and I think that's what we try to do. The people here are super supportive and want to do the best. We look at the whole person trying to improve however we can," says Daniels.
"When you talk to Chuck you find him to be very humble, very unassuming person who just wants to use his time to help others," says directors of volunteer resources, Luann Heinert.
Staff at the Goodwill Inn say Daniels is more than just a volunteer. In fact, they say he's an inspiration for residents here at the inn.
"He teaches a money management class here and I know that's been a tremendous help to the residents. His warmth and his compassion and his genuineness really comes out," says Heinert.
"I think once they get to know him, they see him walking the halls, stop talk to him. They love to see him here too. I think it's inspiring for the guests to stay here too to see this older gentleman who used to be a teacher so he loves to talk," says Weber.
From volunteering to making an impression...Daniels goes above and beyond for those in need.
"It makes you feel good. It makes you want to do something everyday. You look forward to coming in each day and doing something new and challenging and I would definitely recommend it to anyone," says Daniels.
During the past two years, Daniels has put in 13-hundred hours volunteering at the Goodwill Inn. When he's not there, he's volunteering his time at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School near Traverse City.
To nominate someone for our "Your Town Hero" segment, email Melissa Smith at: msmith@upnorthlive.com.
