Volunteer Charlie Jones is the last person who wants to be in the spotlight.
 

He’s faithful, goes about his business, and prefers to remain in the background.
 

“I just like to serve,” Jones said (pic­tured second to the left).
 

Every Thursday morning for the past seven years, Jones drives a handful of residents to Kroger for their weekly grocery pickup.
 

As a former Command Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army, Jones enjoys the camaraderie with our SVDP clients on the five-mile roundtrip.
 

“I’m retired military,” added Jones, who served in the Army for 30 years. “I led a pretty tough life, so I thought I better give back … But I just enjoy helping people.”
 

It started out small. Jones drove a couple of clients in his pickup truck. After word spread, he now uses our SVDP van to ensure he has enough room.
 

“It’s a good group of people,” he said.
 

On one occasion, they took a trip to Walmart. Jones says eight went in, but only seven came out. With his military background, Jones made sure no one was left behind. Rain or shine, hot or cold, he knows many of their mannerisms.
 

“For the longest I can remember, one of the residents, Jeffrey, gets four 12-packs of Cokes. Do you realize that’s seven a day? You learn all of his characteristics. But I like interfacing with people,” he said.
 

Jeffrey, who has lived on our Special Works Campus for more than 25 years, is thankful for Jones’ commitment and dedication to volunteering.
 

“He’s only been good to us,” Jeffrey said (pictured third to the right). “We’re very grateful to have Charlie. He’s a good guy.”
 

At 86-years-old, Jones doesn’t like to sit around. He wants to be out in the community, serving.
 

“I stay busy,” Jones said.
 

Jones serves at the Open Hand Kitchen with the Dixie Kiwanas Club. He also picks up bread and desserts from various grocery stores or ministries and brings them to SVDP’s feeding programs. Not to mention he and the Dixie Kiwanas Club host an annual Christmas party for our residents. They cook chili and raffle off gifts. It tends to be one of our residents’ favorite events of the year.
 

“I think St. Vincent de Paul has name recognition everywhere of doing good. I look at some of the people this organization serves, and without St. Vincent, they would either be homeless or a lot less fortunate than they are now.”
 

A Louisville native, Jones is a grad­uate of Bellarmine University. He has two sons, three grandsons, and two great-granddaughters.
 

If you would like to get involved, visit www.svdplou.org/volunteer.