News

Friendship and Service at the Hope Center

Micki Turner and Jianne Gimian are two of our incredible volunteers. Both in “semi-retirement,” Micki and Jianne have been volunteering together at the Hope Center in Berkeley for almost a year. Volunteering has enriched their lives, they say, allowing them to connect with their neighbors and learn more about supportive housing.

Micki and Jianne have been friends since their daughters met in kindergarten. Their friendship has grown through shared activities like bicycling and hiking over the decades and their close bond naturally extended into their volunteer work, where they found a new rhythm of collaboration.

“Micki is a little bit bossy,” Jianne teases. “She’s the captain of our ship!”

Andre Green, Insight Housing Meals Program Manager, found Micki the perfect padded stool to sit on while she volunteers and ease her sciatica. “My kids love that I’m doing something different,” says Micki. “And I love that it’s my community we’re helping.

Both Micki and Jianne are impressed by the Hope Center’s approach to addressing food and housing insecurity. They believe it could serve as a model for similar initiatives across California. “It makes me feel like there is hope, there are solutions,” Micki says.

Through their volunteer work, Micki and Jianne have discovered a new way to connect with their neighbors and gain deeper insights into supportive housing. If you’d like to volunteer with Insight Housing and learn more about our work and our community, sign up here!