Volunteer Spotlight: Anna Grace Claunch

Meet Anna Grace Claunch, a student at Columbia Theological Seminary from Fairhope, Alabama, who is currently in her last year of seminary, en route to becoming an ordained minister in the Presbyterian (USA) Church. She is currently serving her chaplaincy internship at Emmaus House, through the Clinical Pastoral Education program at St. Luke's Training and Counseling Center (TACC).

How did you first learn about or come into contact with Emmaus House?

One of the requirements of ordination in the Presbyterian (USA) denomination is to complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). The purpose of CPE is to bring ministry students into supervised encounters with people in crisis. One of the CPE sites that TACC partners with is Emmaus House.  

What made you want to get involved at Emmaus House?

In the past, I have interned with nonprofits that do work similar to that of Emmaus House, but from the moment I first walked into the Lokey Center, I knew there was something different about Emmaus House. What makes Emmaus House unique is that it offers an authentic sense of community and belonging. From the time you arrive until the time you leave, you are welcomed just as you are and treated with dignity and respect. You are seen as a human being, worthy of love and filled with purpose. That is why I chose to do my CPE at Emmaus House.

What do you do as a volunteer/in what areas do you work?

I primarily assist Sonya at the front desk. I enjoy meeting all the faces that walk through the doors and chatting with people as they wait for services. Sonya is an excellent teacher and I have learned so much from her about the various services offered not only at Emmaus House but throughout the greater Atlanta area.

How long have you been a volunteer?

I have been volunteering at Emmaus House for three weeks.

How often do you volunteer?

I volunteer 15 to 18 hours a week, and I will be at Emmaus House until I graduate from seminary this coming May. 

What do you like most about volunteering at Emmaus House?

That is a hard question, but I would have to say that one of my favorite things at Emmaus House is the staff. They are all so patient and genuine, and they treat everyone with compassion and respect. It is truly a privilege to be surrounded by such great mentors.

Can you recall a favorite memory from your time as a volunteer? If so, please share here:

It was a slow day at Emmaus House, and I was working at the front desk. A woman came in and asked to use the computer to print off articles on powerful black women from the United States for her granddaughter's third-grade history project. She told me how her granddaughter was so excited about this project that she could hardly sleep the night before.

Because we were having a slow afternoon, I was able to sit beside the woman and listen as she not only told me about all of the women that have been an inspiration and strength to her own life, but also her own life story. When I finish my CPE unit, my parting gift to Emmaus House will be an ink cartridge and a packet of copy paper because I encouraged her to print off endless sources, articles, and pictures for her granddaughter.

Together, we stapled and hole-punched all the sheets of paper, and then put it all in a binder for her granddaughter. The woman could hardly wait for her granddaughter to get home from school so they could sit down together and read through the binder filled with pages of powerful black women who exhibited steadfast strength, resilience, and love in the midst of racism, oppression, and hatred.

Why is Emmaus House important?

Emmaus House is important because it offers a community and a safe haven for victims of severe income inequality. In addition to all the essential resources that Emmaus House provides, it is the voice of the people it serves. Because of its strong community relationships and intimate knowledge of the locality, Emmaus House understands the community's needs and the best ways to meet them.

What’s one thing you would want people to know about Emmaus House who have never heard of it?

Everyone's favorite volunteer should be Mary Louise, who helps with the food pantry on Thursday mornings. If you are not already aware of her baking skills, I suggest that you come to the Lokey Center on a Thursday morning because she loves to hand out cookies. In the three weeks that I have been at Emmaus House, I have had the best peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip pecan cookies I have ever tasted.