ORLANDO, Fla. — Helping those in need of everyday essentials is a life goal for this week’s Everyday Hero, Colleen Besselievere. She has been volunteering with the Christian Service Center in Orlando for nearly a decade now, and she’s also encouraging others to get involved. 

What You Need To Know

Colleen Besselievere is a dedicated volunteer spending time for nearly a decade helping out at the Christian Service Center in Orlando

With new services coming online, the Christian Service Center is in need of many new volunteers

Besselievere is encouraging people to get involved and become a volunteer

Director of Operations for the Christian Service Center Kristen Pena says Colleen is truly dedicated to giving back

Rolling up her sleeves and giving back is child’s play for Colleen Besselievere. She has been volunteering with the Christian Service Center in West Orange County for nearly 10 years, and she most definitely feels the love. After she stopped working, she says she just had to get involved. She said that her initial experience was eye opening. 

“The thing that struck me is I live two miles from here, and I never realized the need in my own backyard basically and it really humbles you,” Besselievre said.

“Colleen is one of our most valuable volunteers. She is so wonderful, she comes in anytime that we need her. If we are a little bit short one day, we know we can pick up the phone and Colleen is going to be here in 20 minutes,” Kristen Pena said.

Pena is Director of Operations for the Christian Service Center. She and others are happy and excited to see volunteers like Colleen go the extra mile to help others. Colleen wouldn’t have it any other way. 

“Making a difference just in their day,” she said. “People are heard, they are seen, you acknowledge them, you don’t talk down to them, cause it could be you. A lot of these people, it’s just bad luck. Some of them have other circumstances going on, but we are here to help and support them,” she said.

Colleen says anyone can get involved. Due to increased demand, the Christian Service Center needs more volunteers to help out with additional services coming online.

“We’re here to help and support them with not only a hot meal every day, but stock the pantry for them so they have meals to prepare on the weekends when we are closed, make them sandwiches, we do whatever we have to makes sure they get fed,” Colleen said.