When you spend even a few minutes with Laurie, it becomes immediately clear why she is so beloved at The Ark. There is a calm warmth in the way she listens, a patience that puts people at ease, and a genuine kindness that makes clients and staff feel seen. It’s a presence rooted in decades of service and a deep belief in the power of human connection. 

Laurie first began volunteering at The Ark shortly after graduating from college, around 2003. New to Chicago and searching for a Jewish organization where she could volunteer in a hands-on way, The Ark felt like a natural fit. “Volunteering was always part of my life growing up,” she explains. “My family really instilled the importance of giving back, and how fortunate we were, and never taking that for granted.”  

In her earliest volunteer role, Laurie spent time visiting clients in an assisted living facility affiliated with The Ark, simply sitting and talking with them. Later, she volunteered in the pantry, sorting donations and helping wherever she was needed.  

After her son was born in 2011, Laurie stepped back from regular volunteering. But The Ark never truly left her life. She and her husband brought her son to family events, slowly introducing him to the community that had meant so much to her. Years later, when it came time for his bar mitzvah, he chose The Ark as his mitzvah project which helped bring Laurie back in a more consistent way.  

In 2023, she returned fully, starting with shifts at the bimonthly Café Ark dinner for clients. “Since then, I’ve stayed very active,” she says. “I’m there every week.” Over the past two and a half years, Laurie has become a constant presence across the organization. She volunteers in the pantry every Wednesday, helps at Café Ark twice a month, joins Gesher program field trips, sorts donations at The Ark’s Pantry warehouse, serves as the B’nai Mitzvah coordinator, and often sits at the front desk welcoming clients and visitors.  

When asked which role is her favorite, Laurie laughs. “People always ask what my favorite role is, and it’s hard to choose.” One role that surprised her most was the front desk. “It’s given me the chance to really connect with both clients and staff,” she says. “I’ve gotten to know so many people I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I feel incredibly connected to the whole organization.”  

Some of Laurie’s most meaningful experiences come from quiet, deeply human moments. On a Gesher field trip to the Shedd Aquarium, Laurie noticed a client who felt overwhelmed. “He asked if I could stay with him,” she remembers. “We sat quietly away from the group, and I could see him calm down. He later thanked me and said he felt much better.”  

What makes Laurie’s story especially powerful is how seamlessly volunteering fits into her full life. Alongside her volunteer work, she maintains a full-time career as a real estate agent, cares for her family, and pursues a wide range of interests. “I fence, do Pilates, work out, read, and spend time with friends,” she says. “I’ve been fencing for almost three years now, and it’s one of the hardest and most humbling things I’ve ever done, but I love it.”  

Rather than seeing volunteering as a sacrifice, Laurie sees it as a gift. “At this point, I honestly feel like the organization gives me just as much as I give it,” she says. “I’ve met one of my closest friends through volunteering at The Ark. It truly feels like a big family and community.”  

For anyone hesitant to volunteer because of time constraints, Laurie offers reassurance. “The Ark really tries to accommodate all schedules,” she says. “There are so many different ways to volunteer, and that flexibility makes it possible for so many people to get involved.”  

At The Ark, Laurie hasn’t just found a place to give her time. She’s found belonging and has helped create it for countless others.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering at The Ark, contact us at [email protected].