Lisa Presnell is a Barnabas volunteer whose life was changed by helping to coordinate Barnabas’ annual Empty Bowls fundraising luncheon for the past six years. How does volunteering change your life?

“Barnabas encompasses everything that I want to be able to do for others and, most important, all of the money stays right here to help people in our community,” said Presnell. “I believe if we work together to assist those in need, we can witness the difference and that’s what affects me. I see first-hand during the Empty Bowls event how the giving spirit becomes infectious. We have to be the change that we want to see. The tremendous generosity and impact that Empty Bowls has in Nassau County is proof of how volunteers change lives.”

Presnell’s 20-year business, Lisa Presnell Productions, is a destination wedding and event planning company based in Fernandina Beach. When she learned about Empty Bowls years ago from acquaintances who were on Barnabas’ board of directors, she felt a deep connection to not only the event coordination aspect of the event, but also Barnabas’ mission to “Connect People, Help and Hope.”

“Empty Bowls is the one charity event I volunteer to coordinate each year and I feel so fortunate to be able to do it,” she said. “It’s amazing to watch how many volunteers come together to make this large event happen. From the professionals at the Ritz-Carlton to the volunteers to the Barnabas staff, every single person makes a difference and plays an important role in the success of the Empty Bowls event.”

When asked what she’d like to convey to others who are considering volunteering at Barnabas, Presnell replied, “Volunteering changes people’s lives. Volunteering creates connections and builds relationships. Most remarkably, volunteering can be just as beneficial for the volunteer as it is for the people in need who are helped by Barnabas. Whether you start with doing something small or large, volunteer and you will see and feel the change.”

For information on volunteering, contact Kim Cherry, Volunteer Coordinator at Barnabas at (904) 261-7000 ext. 118 or kcherry@barnabasnassau.org.