Volunteer Spotlight: The Pavia Family

A Higher Calling : The Pavia Family

For the Pavia Family, volunteering at the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky is more than just serving others, it’s a higher calling and an opportunity to live out their Christian faith.

“God calls us to serve with our time, talent and treasures. He abundantly blesses us with the trust that we will use them to bless others, especially our brothers and sisters in need, “ explains Christie Pavia.

Christie was first introduced to ESNKY at an annual Flapjack Classic fundraiser, organized by a family friend, where Kim Webb, CEO of ESNKY, also attended to give guests an overview of the shelter and how the proceeds from the fundraiser would be used. In 2019, Christie, her husband, and two sons served their first meal at the shelter where the passion for service at ESNKY was born.

“The shelter gives the most down and out in life an opportunity for a brighter future. They love and take in the most vulnerable and whom society has written off. It is the simple things at the shelter that have a huge impact,” says Christie, “engaging in conversation, making eye contact, shaking hands are all ways to humble ourselves before the clients, which breathes life into them. For our family it is more than serving food, it is an opportunity to try and be the light in the darkness.“

The Pavia family’s service to the guests of ESNKY has grown over the past four years, and Christie now works to get other families to volunteer their time and talents as well. Christie helps organize the Cavaliers Care Ministry with St Joseph Elementary in Crescent Springs, KY. The outreach program connects families with local charities to serve.

“We have averaged sending 16-20 families to serve dinners at the shelter each year for the past four years. Our school also hosts a Christmas party at the shelter, showering the clients with love and Christmas spirit. It has opened a door for our school families to say ‘Yes’ to helping at the shelter, that otherwise might not have. The guests love seeing the kids who truly bring such joy,” says Christie.

Christie recalls one special moment while volunteering with another family, and how four young boys serving up hot food made a lasting impact on a guest.

“One particular client started in the line with his head down and looked very defeated. One by one, each boy looked him in the eye with a smile on his face saying 'Sir, would you like potatoes, and how was your day?' As the client moved down the line from one little boy to another, his head started lifting up and he got a smile on his face. At the end of the line, he said 'I appreciate you little man, last night I was sleeping under a bridge and now you gave me this hot meal. There is still good in this world.'

If you’d like to volunteer, like the Pavia family, contact Maya Mintu, ESNKY Volunteer Coordinator, at maya.mintu@esnky.net or (859) 291 – 4555.