Former VISTA with Persistent Passion for Service Helps Feed Denver’s Hungry

Barbara Motichka has spent the majority of her life giving back to the communities where she’s lived, not just through volunteerism, but also by helping those around her become stronger and more successful volunteers.

In her 20s, Barbara left her home in New York to become a VISTA, now AmeriCorps VISTA, helping migrants in Utah before eventually moving to Colorado. Volunteering has always been Barbara’s passion and it only made sense for her to return to it full force after she retired.

Barbara says she began volunteering “to get out and learn and be with people, see how people dealt with things, how people compromised, and how people work things out.”

Over the past three years, Barbara has spent three days of her week ensuring that the shelves of Metro Caring’s pantry are full and that those experiencing food insecurity receive an experience that is dignified and respectful. Since she started, Barbara has volunteered more than 1,400 hours – giving more hours in 2016 than any other volunteer at the pantry.

Read the full story on the Points of Light blog.