Goold As Gold: For Five Years, Father And Son Volunteer Together

The shutdown caused by the pandemic provided a father and son with an opportunity to give back to their community by volunteering together. Five years later, they’re still doing it.

Bob Goold had been a regular volunteer at another area non-profit agency until the pandemic forced that organization to pause activities in March 2020. Bob wanted to continue volunteering in some capacity, so he immediately went to St. Susan Center to inquire if that organization needed assistance. As fate would have it, St. Susan Center’s drivers had just resigned because of the pandemic, and officials of the soup kitchen offered Bob a position as a volunteer driver.

Bob agreed and said he wanted his son Greg to volunteer alongside him.

“I said I wanted to do it, because at The Resource Center house where I live, they’re trying to teach us to help other people,” Greg said.

The next day, Bob and Greg began volunteering at St. Susan. They’re there several days each week. The pair visits area retailers to pick up food, then transports it back to St. Susan and unloads it. Greg runs the ramp and the loading gate, and he has gotten proficient at his volunteer tasks over the years.

“We have to load and unload, and he’s done very well with doing spatiality — loading things into a cart and stuff like that,” Bob said of Greg. “He definitely has grown in that regard.”

Bob, who serves on The Resource Center’s board of directors, noted that five years ago, no other people from TRC were volunteering at St. Susan. Now there are about a dozen other people with disabilities, along with their support staff, who volunteer there through TRC’s Community Pre-Vocational Program. St. Susan Center recently thanked each of its TRC volunteers and recognized one of them, Colton Hanson, as its volunteer of the year.

Many people come to St. Susan Center on a regular basis to enjoy a meal and fellowship, and they have gotten to know the contingent from The Resource Center.

“They’re happy to see us, we’re happy to see them,” said Bob of the St. Susan regulars. He added that volunteering at St. Susan nourishes his soul, and he thinks that’s true for the other volunteers from TRC. “I think they feel the same way,” Bob said. “You just feel better when you walk out of here.”

“It makes you feel good,” Greg agreed.

St. Susan Center officials are grateful for the efforts of the father-son Goold team.

“Bob and Greg have been invaluable volunteers at St. Susan’s for nearly six years, demonstrating remarkable dedication by picking up and delivering recovery food from our local retail partners so our guests are provided with amazing quality food,” said Cherie Rowland, executive director. Their commitment shines through every Wednesday and Friday, as they greet our community with smiles and unwavering enthusiasm. We are incredibly blessed to have Bob and Greg as part of our team, making a positive impact in the lives of so many.”

The Goolds plan to continue volunteering at St. Susan Center for years to come.

“Happy to be here, and five years went pretty fast,” said Bob. He turned to Greg and asked, “Are we here for five more?”

“Yes!” was Greg’s enthusiastic answer.