Volunteer Feature: Deb Kelly

At CAER, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Their time, compassion, and dedication make it possible for us to serve our community with dignity and care. That’s why we’re excited to launch a new volunteer spotlight series, recognizing some of the outstanding individuals who support our mission.

Our first featured volunteer is Deb Kelly. For the past seven years, Deb has been an essential part of the CAER volunteer team, faithfully giving 50 to 60 hours of her time each month. In the last year alone, she has contributed over 450 hours of service, bringing her total to more than 2,600 volunteer hours at CAER. What an extraordinary gift of time, energy, and heart.

Deb first joined CAER shortly after retirement, initially volunteering through her church group. What began as a way to give back quickly became much more. She found not only meaningful work, but also a welcoming community built on connection, shared purpose, and service. That sense of belonging has kept her deeply engaged ever since.

At CAER, Deb is known for her pride in her work, her positivity, and her incredible reliability. For many years, she has taken the lead in keeping our shopper shelves stocked, organized, and ready for families. She approaches this role with exceptional care and attention to detail. More recently, she expanded her impact by stepping into front-desk responsibilities, greeting shoppers, assisting with check-ins, and helping create a warm and welcoming experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

Deb also has a special place in her heart for pets. She has become a champion of CAER’s pet food area, ensuring that families can care for their furry companions alongside themselves. Her dedication to keeping pet food organized and accessible reflects her deep understanding that pets are family too.

And Deb’s commitment to serving others doesn’t stop at CAER. She also volunteers with Ruff Start Rescue, where she has contributed more than 450 hours since 2022. There, she supports the Development Department by recording in-kind donations, preparing tax receipts, sorting supplies, and assisting with special projects. Her precision, dependability, and willingness to step in wherever needed help strengthen donor relationships and ensure critical resources reach animals and families in need.

Whether she’s stocking shelves, welcoming shoppers, organizing pet food, or supporting animal rescue efforts, Deb embodies what volunteerism is all about: showing up, caring deeply, and making a difference.

We are incredibly grateful for Deb’s service and proud to share her story, which inspires all of us to lead with compassion, generosity, and heart. Thank you, Deb, for all you do.

< Older Post

Local 4-H Youth Turn Dairy Project into Support for Families

By Jessica Ovall • April 13, 2026

Thank you Otsego Four Leaves 4-H !

SNAP Benefits Disruption Information

By Jessica Ovall • October 24, 2025

Information and Resources

Together for Community: The Harvest of Hope Gala - October 30, 2025

By Jessica Ovall • October 2, 2025

An Evening of Community, Compassion, and Hope

How CAER Sources Food

By CAER Food Shelf • July 22, 2025

If you’ve ever stepped inside CAER Food Shelf, you’ve likely noticed the bright, welcoming space that feels more like a small grocery store than a typical food shelf. That’s intentional. CAER follows a choice model , allowing individuals and families to select the foods that best meet their needs—reducing waste and honoring personal and cultural preferences. It’s all about dignity, flexibility, and creating a positive, respectful experience. Still, one question often comes up when visitors see shelves filled with fresh produce, dairy, meat, pantry staples, and personal care items: “Where does all this food come from?” The answer: a lot of places. Some donated, some purchased. Some rescued from retail shelves, and some grown in backyards or local fields.

How CAER Helps Reduce Hunger and Food Waste

By CAER Food Shelf • July 22, 2025

At CAER, we often talk about the importance of reducing hunger in our community—but there’s another critical part of what we do that doesn’t get as much attention: reducing food waste.