SPAN Volunteer Dedicates Time To Helping Those In Need

By Hayley Gable

Manhattan Beach resident Barbara Troxel has always been passionate about helping others. Seven years ago, that passion led her to a volunteer position at Serving People Across Neighborhoods (SPAN) on Benfield Road. 

Known formerly as the Severna Park Assistance Network, SPAN opened its doors to local area families in crisis in 1990. The organization was established due to church members’ concerns in the Severna Park area with regard to the growing demand for emergency help, the need to identify the people seeking help, and a process to help those people in a dignified and expeditious manner.

Before the group existed, those needing assistance would be forced to go from church to church. SPAN currently enables those in need to find sufficient resources for food and financial needs, such as prevention of eviction, utility disruption, or prescriptions all in one place.

For the last several years, Troxel has donated much of her time to interviewing and evaluating applicants who need help financially, so SPAN may then determine what the necessary resources and services are to provide. She interviews approximately five to eight people on a weekly basis and inquires with them about where they live, if they’re financially eligible for assistance, and if what they need falls within SPAN’s ability to help.

“My favorite part of what I do is seeing that it really makes a difference in peoples’ lives,” said Troxel. “This area has a lot of very needy people. I had no idea until I started volunteering with SPAN, but the current condition of the economy has really taken its toll around here.”

While SPAN is able to supply those in need with necessary materials and items, Troxel only wishes they could help more with non-materialistic needs. “I wish we could give them all a better outlook on life and make even more of an impact on their long-term disadvantages,” she added. “Many of them continue coming to us for help, and I wish we could give them something more permanent.”

SPAN’s Executive Director Maria DeNardo is enormously grateful for Troxel’s commitment to the organization.

“Each year, Barbara spends many hours processing eligible families, setting up the facility for donor delivery of food and gifts, and distributing the food and gifts to the 150 families in the program. She is the first point of contact for the families and assists them through the pick-up process, which at times can be very confusing for the families,” said DeNardo. “Barbara’s dedication to SPAN goes beyond working with the families. She’s always willing to fill in for her co-workers to assure SPAN is fully staffed and readily shares her knowledge and experience with others. As with all of our volunteers, Barbara is reassuring, nurturing and works extensively to get a full understanding of the client’s problem. Because of volunteers such as Barbara, SPAN has remained dedicated to helping all who come through our doors.”

As for Troxel’s future with the program, she plans on staying for as long as her services are needed. “It’s what I love to do,” she said.