American Spirit: A Beacon of Hope
For more than 15 years, Jayne Harbin-Pettit has been passionately committed to those she has served through her various roles with Volunteers of America. She can tell you about each of the individuals who have come in and out of her life; but more importantly, they have not forgotten her—or her selfless acts of kindness.
When “Charlie” first met Harbin-Pettit, she was a caseworker at Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter in Louisville, Ky. He and his family were homeless, and although just a little boy, here members watching his mother struggle to overcome addiction and create a stable ife. He looked to Harbin-Pettit for the support he needed during this time. Whether it was listening with an open heart or just a warm smile in passing, Harbin-Pettit was there.
One day, Charlie’s mother left the shelter and never returned, abandoning her children. Volunteers of America could not continue to provide support for the children without a parent or guardian living in this particular shelter, so a search commenced to find another suitable residence for the children. Harbin-Pettit sat with Charlie as he waited to transfer to another local agency that could care for him. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “It was heartbreaking,” Harbin-Pettit remembered.
Charlie later went to live with a family member, but he and Harbin-Pettit stayed connected through the move and beyond. Harbin-Pettit would take him to the movies and to her own family’s picnics in the summer. However, as the years passed, their contact became less frequent. Charlie had grown older and more independent. Eventually, the outings became less frequent and eventually stopped altogether.
Then, “one day, out of the blue, he called me at work,” said Harbin-Pettit. “He seemed to be so excited that I was still working here.”
Now a young man, Charlie had joined the Navy. One evening, he was lying in his bunk aboard ship thinking about the people who had helped him during the most difficult periods of his life. Harbin-Pettit immediately came to mind. He remembered how she had been the constant in his life, especially when he needed it most. He felt compelled to get back in touch with her. With a phone call from halfway around the world, the two friends reconnected once again.
“There are so many others, like Charlie, who will never forget Ms. Jayne and the impact that she’s had on their lives,” said Katie Receveur, director of social services for the local Volunteers of America program. “She is committed to making a real difference and helping families to find lasting solutions. We at Volunteers of America are very lucky to have Jayne on our side!”
“Families send Jayne thank you notes and photos years after they’ve worked with her,” adds Donna Trabue, vice president of Volunteers of America of Kentucky. “Time and time again, she connects with our families in meaningful and lasting ways.”
In the winter of 2003, Harbin-Pettit’s light brightened more lives.
The sun was starting to set on one of the coldest days of the year, and a homeless family prepared for another sleepless night. Against all odds, they called Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter one more time to ask if a room had become available.
As fate would have it, Harbin-Pettit answered the call. She had good news. A space had become available for the family, but Sammie, the family’s precious 10-yearold cat, would have to live somewhere else. Without the support network so many of us take for granted, the family had nowhere for Sammie to go. Despite the risk faced that night, they refused to sacrifice Sammie’s well-being for their own safety.
With cats and dogs of her own, Harbin- Pettit understood the family was making the only decision it could. As she does so often during the day, she picked up the phone to find someone to help. She placed call after call that night to friends and local veterinarians. Eventually, Harbin-Pettit found someone willing to foster Sammie. The family moved into the shelter assured that their beloved cat would be safe while they worked to establish stable housing.
Harbin-Pettit’s efforts that evening launched a new partnership. Today, six years later, more than 20 pets of homeless families have been fostered while their owners reside at the Volunteers of America Family Emergency Shelter.
“She’s a beacon of hope,” said Volunteers of America of Kentucky President and CEO Jane W. Burks. “Jayne is professionally and personally committed to helping homeless families rebuild their lives. Jayne gives selflessly of her time and spirit and has been a foundation for our organization and homeless families in the region for more than a decade.”
Jayne Harbin-Pettit is now the manager of transitional housing at Volunteers of America of Kentucky.
