What skills does a banker need? Counting money, figuring interest and understanding the qualifications for loans and mortgages are important of course. But the number one qualification is people skills. After all, bankers are here to help people.
Carla McCormally has taken the skills she honed as a banker and transferred them to the Center of Grace to make lives better.
Carla started helping at the old First United Methodist Church building after the Breakfast Club opened in the 1980s. She was also working for Bank IV (now Bank of America) as a customer service officer at the same time. She loved donating time in the morning because she knew how important a good meal and some friendly words were to make students’ school days better. None of the volunteers cared why the children were there; they just wanted to be of service and a blessing to others.
Now that the old church building is The Center of Grace, Carla continues to volunteer. More than forty years of helping has given her new skills and honed the ones she already had. She loves being a receptionist here because it allows her to help people with Clothes Closet and medical equipment appointments. She tells others about the free meals that are offered and refers clients to partner organizations who may be able to offer further assistance like help for rent, utilities, food assistance, and medical care.
As a banker, Carla knew that her clients needed help and understanding so that they could be successful. Now Carla helps so many more with kind words, smiles, directions, and love. The Center of Grace and our community is so grateful to have had Carla’s love, devotion, and service for so many years.
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