Volunteers are the lifeblood of an organization like West Valley Community Services. Volunteers empower our work and deepen our impact. They do a million things - big and small - sort groceries, stock shelves, pick up food, answer phones, respond to client questions…and so much more.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. With such a small staff team and more than 3,000 clients per year, our work would not be possible without our amazing volunteers.
People like Harvey Barnett, who has been volunteering at WVCS for more than 20 years.
Earlier this month, Harvey passed away, leaving a legacy of compassion, hard work, and commitment - both to WVCS and to the greater community. Harvey was a long time volunteer and former WVCS board member, serving from 2003-2009. Harvey held various positions on our board, including secretary and vice chair, and in 2007 was our Board Chair.
But West Valley Community Services was just one of the ways Harvey served our community. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Cupertino, and for many years chaired the annual Dr. Seuss Reading Day event. He had a long career as a leader in our schools, impacting the hearts and minds of our young people and their parents. And he was a dedicated husband and father.
But to me, he was a friendly face on Wednesday afternoons where he would volunteer in our pantry. Of course, volunteering is a deeply held value in the Barnett family, and while Harvey was downstairs assisting clients as they selected food, his wife Cec would be upstairs, providing administrative support to our client services team.
I came to know Harvey and Cec very well, and treasure the times I got to have lunch with Harvey at Rotary or visit with him in our lobby. He had a huge heart, and Wednesdays at WVCS just won’t be the same without him.