Volunteer Spotlight: Lisa Stamm and Michelle Middendorf

For Lisa Stamm and her sister, Michelle Middendorf, volunteering at the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky means showing up regularly: doing laundry once a month and bringing their families to provide and serve a meal every few months. Since they began volunteering in 2022, those everyday tasks have become opportunities to connect with guests and support the shelter’s mission.

Lisa’s connection to the community began long before her first volunteer shift. After living in the heart of downtown Covington for more than ten years, she was keenly aware of people experiencing homelessness and had long admired ESNKY’s work.

“When my children were old enough that I had some time to volunteer, ESNKY was my first stop,” Lisa says.

Lisa and Michelle bring organization and efficiency to their volunteer shifts—skills that are particularly useful in the laundry room. “Those skills can come in handy when tackling the loads of laundry that housing 70 people can create!” she says. Alongside that work, she emphasizes treating each guest with care and helping provide warmth and comfort.

“It’s amazing how much a kind word, a smile, or the simple courtesy of giving them a choice of what they’d like on their plate can do,” she says.

From her first visit, Lisa was impressed by how the shelter operates.

“I have been impressed since the first time I walked through the doors at ESNKY by the way the shelter is run.  It is a safe and clean environment, and the staff is so positive and caring.  I believe this organization is savings lives every day, and I’m proud to have played even a small role in its mission,” says Lisa.

 For Lisa and Michelle, that role continues through monthly laundry shifts and meals shared with their families—practical ways to offer support and connection.

Volunteering has also changed how Lisa thinks about homelessness. Conversations about community needs now feel more personal because she has met the individuals behind them.

“Volunteering at ESNKY has allowed me to put a human face on those who are experiencing homelessness. When I hear people talk about the ‘homeless problem,’ that is now a much more personal concept for me.  Rather than seeing a mass of unhoused people who the rest of us should fear and avoid, I see individuals who need extra support and guidance,” Lisa says. 

While Lisa says that volunteers cannot solve every problem ESNKY guests face, for her and her family the essential contribution is showing that people care and that resources are available to meet guests where they are.

If you’d like to become a volunteer, like Lisa and Michelle, contact Maya Mintu, ESNKY Volunteer Coordinator at maya.mintu@esnky.net or (859) 291 – 4555.