From Supporter to Volunteer: Meet Karl Bechtold

For many years, Karl Bechtold supported The Corner Table from the sidelines. His wife, Beth, had been involved with our organization and encouraged Karl to become part of the team. When Karl retired, he decided it was time to do more than support The Corner Table. He decided to give his time.

Since 2022, Karl has become one of those volunteers we can count on week after week.

A typical week might find Karl picking up donations from Walmart and Sam’s Club, bringing them back to The Corner Table, breaking down boxes, weighing and sorting donations, and getting food onto the shelves and ready to be used. He has also cooked meals, served guests, and jumped in wherever an extra set of hands was needed at the Community Kitchen.

But Karl brings another very valuable skill to The Corner Table. Before retirement, he worked in IT, and he has used that experience to help our leadership team with computer and technology needs. From helping us consolidate programs and subscriptions to finding ways to save money and work more efficiently, Karl has made an impact in ways that many people may never see.

When asked what motivates him to keep coming back, Karl simply said:

“It’s a commitment I made and I’m sticking with it.”

But behind that commitment is a deeper reason. Karl recognizes that he has been fortunate to have a strong family and people in his life who helped him become the person he is today. He sees that same need for support in the people we serve.

“If what I do at The Corner Table helps them just a little, and can have an impact on their lives, I can be one of those people in their lives. That’s very rewarding to me.”

One of Karl’s favorite parts of volunteering is the people he has met along the way. There is one young man, Collen, whom Karl especially looks forward to seeing. Karl says Collen “never has a bad day” and always has a story to share about the things that interest him.

“His attitude is so uplifting. I look forward to seeing him when I’m at TCT. It makes my day.”

When asked to describe his volunteer experience in three words, Karl didn’t hesitate:

People helping people.

That is exactly what we see in Karl.

Karl, thank you for showing up, rolling up your sleeves, sharing your talents, and keeping your commitment to our community. Whether you are picking up a donation, stocking a shelf, helping serve a meal, troubleshooting a computer issue, or finding a way for us to save money, you are making The Corner Table stronger.

And perhaps most importantly, you are reminding us that people helping people is what community is all about.

We are incredibly grateful for you, Karl, and we are even more grateful to know that you have no plans to stop volunteering at The Corner Table!