Getting to Know The River Center: Sue W

One of the greatest joys of my work is sharing the faces and stories of those who make The River Center what it is — those who pour their time, energy and heart into lifting others up. This month, I want to shine a light on someone who embodies the very spirit of our mission, Operations and Development Manager Sue Whitaker.

Sue’s journey is one of resilience, quiet strength, deep faith and unwavering love for her family. Back in 2009, she was a stay-at-home mom raising three young children. She knew about The River Center and our parenting programs, but even though we offered a sliding scale, she was cautious with spending — always thinking of others before herself. She didn’t think the programs were for her.

But then, as life sometimes does, everything changed. Sue’s husband — a strong provider with a great job and a bright future — was suddenly laid off. They had done everything “right,” including building a substantial savings. But as months of unemployment stretched on, that safety net was slowly depleted. Eventually, they found themselves facing the unimaginable — the very real possibility of losing their home.

It’s a sobering reminder that even families who seem financially secure can be brought to the edge by circumstances beyond their control.

As Sue puts it so honestly, “You never think it can happen to you.”

When they walked through the doors of The River Center, they found more than just parenting programs; they found a community ready to help. We assisted with free tax preparation, applications for WIC, fuel and electric assistance and, perhaps most importantly, encouragement and support.

Sue recalls, “That difficult period taught me that life can throw you curveballs. Until you’ve gone through something like that, it’s easy to look at people and think they should’ve made better choices. But things happen — unexpected, uncontrollable things. And they can change everything.”

Sue joined our staff in September 2019. She describes her work here as incredibly rewarding: “I’ve seen firsthand how the support we give helps families not only survive but thrive. Having lived through our own hardship makes me even more grateful for what we do, and reminds me never to judge someone by where they are in life.”

Over time, Sue’s role has shifted to mostly behind the scenes, but her impact is felt everywhere. As operations and development manager, she coordinates our fundraising campaigns, writes grants and ensures our donors and funders know the difference their support is making. She tracks the data that shows who we’re serving in each town, and she also helps manage our family programs — communicating with facilitators and site coordinators, making sure everything runs smoothly and ensuring that each program has what it needs to succeed.

Occasionally, Sue steps out from behind her desk to attend a program or represent us at a community event. It’s a welcome change of pace and a chance to help spread the word about The River Center. And whether she knows it or not, Sue is one of the most familiar and caring faces people recognize at events like Children and the Arts.
We often hear from folks who know The River Center for just one thing — perhaps the parenting groups, the tax help or a support service they once received. But our impact goes far beyond that. That’s why we’ve been making a more-intentional effort to bring our programs directly to the communities we serve and to be present at local events. For a small organization, this takes a lot of energy, but every person who advocates for us helps carry the mission forward.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a note — one that Sue, ever focused on our sustainability, would insist on sharing.

We’ve already begun to feel the impact of federal funding changes and shifts in the broader economy. Grants are more competitive. Donations are down from last year. Thankfully, we have a committed board of trustees, a strategic development committee and a devoted base of donors and volunteers who not only sustain our work but continually remind us why it matters. Still, we need your help. Your support ensures that when a family walks through our doors in crisis, as Sue’s once did, we’re able to meet them with the help — and hope — they need.
Working on this piece with Sue reminded me of something I’ve carried with me for years, as an adult child of an alcoholic:

Most people are doing the best they can with what they have.
It is not our job to judge.
It is our mission to help.

Author

Odette Butler serves as executive director of The River Center Family and Community Resource Center. She can be reached at 603-924-6800.