AN INTERVIEW WITH KAREN BERKLEY, SARAH’S HOPE VOLUNTEER
Interviewer: My first question for you, Ms. Berkeley, is: how did you first get involved with Sarah’s Hope?
Ms. Berkeley: Oh, it was years ago—I can’t remember the exact date—but I’ve been doing this for 18 years now. It started when I attended a youth meeting at St. Ambrose. I wase looking for an outreach project that would get the St Gregory kids involved in serving people experiencing homelessness. Someone at the meeting suggested I go down and visit Sarah’s Hope. I did—and I’ve been involved ever since.
Interviewer: So that meeting at St. Ambrose really set everything in motion.
Ms. Berkeley: Yes, and at the time I was actually at St. Gregory’s. Our youth group had been invited to join St. Ambrose’s youth group for fellowship, and that’s how the connection between St Gregory and St Ambrose began. (Norma Townsend, St Ambrose Youth Director)
Interviewer: Why is serving families experiencing homelessness so meaningful to you personally? Eighteen years is a long commitment. (Eighteen years is a long time to stay committed)
Ms. Berkeley: I just love making people happy, and I love being around children. And honestly, when I was growing up, my family went through a similar situation. I remember telling my mom, even as a little girl, “When I grow up, I’m going to help somebody.” And that stayed with me. That’s why I do it.
Interviewer: That’s beautiful. And you’ve really lived that promise—eighteen years of helping people who need a hand. Do you think your faith or your parish community played a role in your decision to start this work?
Ms. Berkeley: Yes, absolutely. It actually began with that youth meeting. I brought the idea back to my church family (St Gregory), and they were completely supportive. My faith really called me to do it.
Interviewer: So your church community encouraged you and stood behind you.
Ms. Berkeley: Oh yes, definitely. Everything I needed, my church family was there for me—both St. Gregory’s, where I was at the time, and St. Ambrose. They both played a part. 
Interviewer: Is there a moment from your 18 years of service that has really stayed with you—something that truly touched your heart?
Ms. Berkeley: Actually, there are two moments, and both still stay with me. The first was on my very first day there. I remember a little girl—her name was Cxxxxx. She arrived with nothing on her feet, no shoes, no coat, nothing. And it was the dead of winter, just like it is now. She looked up at me and asked, “Is this going to be my home?” I told her yes. Then she asked, “Can I have a coat?” I said, “You can have a coat.” And then she asked, “Can I have food?” And I said, “Baby, you can have whatever you want while you’re here.” That moment touched my heart so deeply. That’s when I knew this was my happy place.
And then just last month, something else happened. My husband brings Santa to Sarah’s Hope every year. A little boy sat on Santa’s lap and said, “I just want a bed and a house.” That’s all he asked for—a bed. Santa told him, “We’re going to see what we can do.” Two days later, I got a call saying they had found a house and the family was moving in that day.
Interviewer: That’s incredible.
Ms. Berkeley: People say God can’t do it—but yes, He can. Moments like that are why I do what I do. Seeing those children’s faces light up when we walk in… they just smile. And even if I show up with something simple—peanut butter and jelly, for example—they act like it’s gold. These little children don’t ask to be in that situation. They don’t ask for any of it. So my goal is to bring a smile to their faces while they’re there.
Interviewer: That’s powerful.
Ms. Berkeley: And I don’t do this alone. If it weren’t for my friends, my family, and my husband’s fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, I couldn’t do it. They’ve been with me the whole time. Whenever I call and say, “ I need food for Sarah’s Hope,” they show up. Just last month, my friend and her husband came down with bicycles, clothes and donated everything to Sarah’s Hope—in my name. I’m blessed to have people who support this work right alongside me.
Interviewer: What challenges have you encountered while volunteering, and how did you navigate them? Have there been any significant obstacles?
Ms. Berkeley: The main challenge has been working with the staff, because there’s a lot of turnover. There’s always someone new, and you have to adjust to each person’s way of doing things. That can be difficult. The other challenge is fundraising—when I need larger amounts of money, it’s hard to go out and secure those donations. Those are really the only two challenges I’ve faced.
Interviewer: So it’s really about maintaining steady financial support and navigating changes in staff and management styles.
Ms. Berkeley: Yes, exactly.
Interviewer: Is there anything you wish more people understood about homelessness or about Sarah’s Hope as a shelter?
Ms. Berkeley: I wish people wouldn’t judge. We don’t know the situations that bring families there. We don’t know their stories. People assume they’re just coming for a handout, and that’s not true. Yes, some people may take advantage of the system—that happens everywhere—but most families truly need help. So I just say: don’t judge. Don’t judge.
Interviewer: Thank you. Now looking ahead, what advice would you give to someone who’s considering volunteering or starting a volunteer effort like the work you do at Sarah’s Hope?
Ms. Berkeley: Please do it. There is so much more joy than sadness. You’ll feel fulfilled knowing you helped someone. You’re giving back. And you’ll see how God can change your life just by being there—because He changed mine. I always say, “If I can help somebody through a word or a song, then my living shall not be in vain.” I live by that. If you help someone, your life will never be the same.  My dream is that one day I’ll leave this earth and there will be no homelessness—no need for Sarah’s Hope. That’s my goal. I wish more people could get involved and feel what I feel, the peace I carry. Even with everything I’m going through personally, Sarah’s lifts me up. Thinking about those families and what I can do for them keeps me going. They do more for me than I do for them.
Interviewer: So Sarah’s Hope lifts you up—it gives you hope. Lastly, are there any ways you think the parish—your church family—could support or expand its involvement?
Ms. Berkeley: Yes. St. Vincent de Paul already supports Sarah’s Hope by helping with Thanksgiving and other activities, and I’m grateful for that. But I think the parish could be more aware of Sarah’s Hope and the needs there. Anyone can come to me or call me if they want to volunteer—we always need help.
We especially need men to come and volunteer. There are men at the shelter who need guidance—someone to talk to them about what it means to be a man, how to navigate life, how to support their families. And the mothers need support too. When families leave the shelter, some don’t have the skills they need, and they end up back in the same situation. If we had groups of women and men who could come and talk with them—about life, about being a single mom, about adjusting to the world—that would make a huge difference. Some of these young girls have never had a role model. They simply don’t know.  So yes, we need role models. We need mentors.
I’ve been thinking about organizing a day of service at the shelter—to see if we could get a group of women from the church to come and speak with the moms. And we also need people closer to the residents’ ages to talk with the young men and young women. Mentorship is really what we need.
Interviewer: Mentors—got it.
Ms. Berkeley: Yes, mentors.
Interviewer: And what about the men of the Pi Omega Foundation? Have they also been involved?
Ms. Berkeley:Oh yes, absolutely. They’ve been wonderful. They support me with everything—Christmas, Halloween, Mother’s Day—whatever I ask, they’re there. Those are the biggest events, but they’ve helped with backpacks, Easter, snacks, anything the families need. If I call and tell them what Sarah’s Hope needs - food or supplies, they go get it for me.  And we’re hoping this year to have the brothers come back and do mentorship as well—especially the younger brothers.John and Karen Berkley