Volunteer Spotlight: Sharon Gunn
When Sharon Gunn moved to the Concord area, she didn’t just look for a new place to live — she looked for a way to connect.
After joining Chichester United Methodist Church, Sharon learned that her pastor had a deep commitment to working with people experiencing homelessness. Once a month, church members gathered downtown to meet people, offer food and water, and build relationships. Over time, those small acts of outreach led Sharon to the Resource Center — and eventually to Concord Coalition to End Homelessness.
“I remember thinking, I’d like to do something more,” Sharon shared. After reaching out to CCEH and connecting with staff, she officially began volunteering in mid-October — just a few months ago.
In that short time, Sharon says she has learned more than she ever expected.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how many layers there are to homelessness,” she said. “A lot of people think it’s just about not having a place to live — but it’s so much more than that. Without an address, it’s harder to get a job, harder to fill out paperwork, harder to move forward. And the bureaucracy alone can be overwhelming.”
She reflected on her own experience moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire — navigating registration, paperwork, and systems — and how much harder that process would be without a safe place to sit, think, and regroup.
Volunteering has also challenged common misconceptions. “Not everyone experiencing homelessness is dealing with addiction,” Sharon emphasized. “There are so many reasons someone can end up in this situation, but no matter how they got there, the barriers are real.”
One of Sharon’s favorite parts of volunteering is getting to know people — even in small ways. Learning names, she says, has been especially meaningful.
“At first, it was hard,” she laughed. “There’s noise, people coming in, and you don’t always hear clearly. But when you start remembering names and faces, you can see it — that little spark when someone realizes they’re recognized.”
That recognition, she says, matters.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest needs that leave the biggest impression. Sharon recalls several guests asking for hair ties over the course of a few days.
“It really stuck with me,” she said. “Something so small — a hair tie — is something most of us never think twice about. But it made such a difference. So I went out and bought a bunch, just to make sure we had them.”
For Sharon, volunteering has been both grounding and eye-opening. It’s allowed her to take what she’s learned beyond the Resource Center and share it with others — helping friends and community members better understand what people actually need.
“I feel blessed to be part of this,” she said. “I’ve always been grateful for the life I’ve had, but this experience has deepened that gratitude. It reminded me how important it is to care for our neighbors — and how much it matters just to show up.”
Sharon continues to volunteer regularly and is always thinking about how else she might help. “Who knows?” she joked. “If I ever win the lottery, I already know exactly where it’s going.”
We are deeply grateful to Sharon for her time, compassion, and commitment to our community. Volunteers like Sharon help make CCEH’s work possible, and we’re thankful for the care she brings to every shift.
