Meet the BH Team - Debbie Franco

by Angela Malizia

It's time for our "Meet the BH Team" Wednesday post. Today we feature Debbie Franco. Debbie is on the BH Management Team and has been an effective leader on many BH projects including the Soup Kitchen team & Hope in Motion team! Debbie's devotion, quiet strength and gentle way with helping others brings comfort to all who are near.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BACKYARD HUMANITARIAN PROJECT?
Coat Drive 2010

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING A BACKYARD HUMANITARIAN?
I love being a Backyard Humanitarian because it provides an outlet to be able to help people. There will always be a need that needs to be met; and there will always be a giving heart somewhere waiting for the opportunity to meet that need. 

CAN YOU SHARE A SPECIAL BACKYARD HUMANITARIAN MOMENT OR EXPERIENCE?
A special BH moment to me was when I first got involved with the serving food at the soup kitchen in 2011. I never realized how much I took for granted being able to have food every day at my disposal. There was a gentleman in line and he was grateful to be able to have a piece of fresh fruit. He took an apple from his tray and put it in his coat pocket to save. It moved me that he was making provision for later in the day. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY?
Reading

WHAT IS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO YOU ABOUT STAMFORD?
My father was a police officer for over 22 years in Stamford. I have very fond memories of growing up here and listening to his stories of the different subdivisions in the city and watching it all evolve into what it is today.

IN A WORD WHAT DOES BACKYARD HUMANITARIAN MEAN TO YOU?
Unconditional.
Although I must elaborate; unconditional because we give without expectation; we love wholeheartedly and we see the need and we meet it. We are a group of individuals with a built-in motive to help and want to give. We do this not for personal gain; however what we receive emotionally in return is far greater than we could imagine.

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