MARGARET PEGGY UMPHRES VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Peggy, a recently retired environmental engineer, is a super-volunteer! She has volunteered with The Salvation Army in many different capacities.
Currently, Peggy volunteers to run a youth program several times per month at The Door of Hope campus. She teaches kids where their food comes from, what vegetables are the healthiest, and makes healthy choices fun. When the kids see her, they get so excited and by the end of every class, they can’t wait to show their moms what they learned and created.
Peggy cares so much about access to healthy foods, she even gifted garden beds to Door of Hope, so the women and children who live on site can learn healthy eating habits together and bond through gardening, nutrition, and cooking. She has a passion for teaching healthy living and wellness, and has also taught nutri-tion classes at a variety of other Salvation Army locations, including pre-schoolers at the Kroc Center, seniors in Escondido, and adults with developmental disabilities in downtown.
Peggy has a willing heart and is always eager to pick up special projects at many of our different locations whenever needed. In addition to volunteering at the Door of Hope, she teaches weekly English classes to native Mandarin speakers at our Escondido Corps. She has also volunteers regularly at the Kroc Center’s food pantry and as a theatre usher. The best thing about Peggy is her efficiency, her diligence, and her ability to work with and relate to all populations. Peggy has an infectious smile, a warm demeanor and truly cares about making a difference in her community. It is our honor to recognize Peggy Umphres as “Volunteer of the Year” this year!