As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we want to introduce you to Terry Preston, our Volunteer Program Manager at Gwinnett County Public Library. Her story of what led her to join us should be an inspiration to us all. Thank you, Terry, for sharing it.
How do you turn your pain into your passion? In 2007, my world shifted forever. I lost my husband to acute myeloid leukemia after a painful and courageous battle. His passing left me hollow. I was no longer a caregiver, no longer working—I was just… searching. Searching for meaning. Searching for purpose.
In that stillness, I felt a pull to give back. I began volunteering with hospice, the same organization that had supported us through our hardest moments. What was once a place of sorrow became a space of comfort. I found joy in helping others and discovered the healing power of kindness through a volunteer coordinator who treated every volunteer like family. Her compassion opened my eyes to the quiet strength of service.
Later, I moved abroad, hoping five years of adventure would bring healing. But illness brought me home early and, with it, a new beginning. While recovering, I spotted a newspaper ad that spoke directly to my heart. It said, “Volunteer Coordinators Needed.”. I already knew how to create meaningful connections and make people feel seen and valued. I applied, and it changed my life. I stepped into a role and realized I could channel all my heartbreak and hope into something meaningful. That path eventually led me to where I am today, the Volunteer Program Manager at the Gwinnett County Public Library system. I support a vibrant group of volunteers.
If you’re in a season of loss or looking for direction, know this: volunteering can be the bridge between pain and purpose. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just take the first step. Start where you are. From that place, something beautiful can grow. What begins as survival can become your true calling.
-Terry A. Preston, Volunteer Program Manager, Gwinnett County Public Library