The Storehouse of Collin County has named Kathy Jascott as 2024 Volunteer of the Year.
Jascott has been volunteering for The Storehouse since 2009, where she has logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours. To commemorate her achievement, Jascott was the guest of honor at The Storehouse’s 2024 Volunteer Appreciation Celebration at Riders Field on April 28, where she was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Frisco RoughRiders game.
“Volunteering with The Storehouse has given me a new purpose after retirement,” said Kathy Jascott. “The Storehouse team is like a second family to me, and it is an honor to be recognized as volunteer of the year. I tell others that volunteering at Joseph’s Coat makes you aware of the needs of other people, and you can make an impact on their lives beyond providing them with clothing. We often refer neighbors to other programs of The Storehouse for additional help, and if The Storehouse cannot provide what they need, they will refer them to others who can.”
The Storehouse’s four integrated programs – the Seven Loaves Food Pantry, Joseph’s Coat Clothing Closet, Project Hope Neighbor Care, and The Academy Education Program – work hand in hand to provide pathways toward transformation for the neighbors. As neighbors’ needs are identified in various programs, team members provide additional direction and assistance to help serve them holistically.
“Working closely with our neighbors leads to trust and a relationship with them, and they often open up to us about what is happening in their lives,” added Jascott. “One time we received a letter from a neighbor who had come to Joseph’s Coat in need of a coat, and we couldn’t find her size at first. She said in her letter that to most people she was invisible until she met us, and that really hit me. There are so many in need due to a variety of reasons, and we truly don’t realize that.”
Jascott has been volunteering in the Joseph’s Coat program since its inception. Back then, neighbors came to Joseph’s Coat and waited in a line to shop for clothing. Last year, The Storehouse began serving neighbors by appointment three days a week, distributing more than 7,5000 articles of clothing per month. `
“It has not only been exciting to see the changes within Joseph’s Coat, but also the addition of new programs at The Storehouse and how they all work together to best serve the neighbors,” said Jascott. “Years ago, I would have never imagined The Storehouse would have The Academy Education Program, which has led to job partnerships and employment for neighbors! Working together, we are building more community and helping our neighbors move toward long-term transformation.”
Jascott volunteers two to three times a week for about two to three hours at a time. She focuses much of her time on donated children’s clothing – one of the biggest needs in the clothing closet. The staff also refers to her as the “Children’s PJ Queen” because she is the best at locating and matching the pajama tops and bottoms, which she then pins together, The Storehouse said in a press release.
“When The Storehouse first began, I was just about ready to retire,” she said. “I worked in elementary education with children with special needs. “Volunteering at Joseph’s Coat is just what I do now, and I love it!”
“I don’t know how we could begin to thank Kathy Jascott for her many years of service in Joseph’s Coat Clothing Closet at The Storehouse,” said Candace Winslow, CEO of The Storehouse. “She has been with us from the beginning, and she understands the impact that our integrated programs can have on our neighbors. She is a delight and a blessing to everyone she meets, and we are beyond grateful for her steadfast dedication to serving others. We congratulate Kathy, a beloved member of our Storehouse family, on this very special honor.”
