When asking Colleen Barta about her experiences in volunteering, be sure to have plenty of time on your hands. When it comes to giving back to her community, there isn’t much that Colleen hasn’t done. From mission trips, to Christmas dinners, to cooking meals for homeless men in Columbus, Colleen’s resume is lengthy to say the least, and it’s still growing!
“If we can touch just one person, then we’ve done our job,” Colleen says. Perhaps more importantly, this is the motto that she lives her life by. “I don’t want a billboard put up about me. If people know what I’m doing, I want them to see that they can do these things too, and that it’s ok.”
Colleen’s church, Livingston United Methodist, works through Faith Mission to prepare and serve meals the fourth Sunday of each month at the men’s shelter at 6th St. and Long St. in downtown Columbus. For the past 15 years, Colleen and her husband have been in charge of preparing meals for the men in the shelter. Each month, Colleen serves between 150 and 210 men.
In addition to Colleen’s work with Faith Mission, each Christmas she is in charge of the kitchen for Bethlehem on Broad Street which provides a turkey dinner for close to 1,000 people each year. The service also allows men and women who are homeless, in need or simply lonely to enjoy a hot cooked meal, a free telephone call, gifts and entertainment. Colleen has been taking part in Bethlehem on Broad Street for nearly 20 years.
Vacationing isn’t something that Colleen typically sets her mind on as she’s far too busy helping those who are less fortunate, however she does manage to find time to get away. Each August, Colleen embarks on a mission trip to small downs in Mexico to provide meals and free medical care to the residents in need. Money is raised each year to pay for the meals and medicine and when Colleen comes in under budget, she travels to Texas to buy beans and rice to provide for Mexican families.
Colleen feels blessed that none of her volunteering activities ever seem to fall on the same weekend, allowing her to be a part of so many great organizations. To be able to help so many people, and having been able to do so for so long, makes her truly proud. Colleen plans to continue volunteering for as long as she is able to.
One goal that Colleen has is to get more people involved in volunteering and giving their time. She wants people to realize that giving doesn’t always have to be monetary; the giving of time is often just as valuable or more valuable to those who are in need. “Whether it’s volunteering at a school, cooking for the homeless or mentoring someone who has come face-to-face with trouble, I would love to see more people volunteer. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone,” Colleen says.