Bob Budd: Helping Others Is the 'Most Satisfying Thing a Person Can Do'

Bob Budd goes from season to season doing outreach work in the community.

In the colder months, he volunteer's with Maureen's Haven, a homeless shelter that rotates nights at different churches, including his own, . In the fall, he is a volunteer football coach.

At St. Luke’s, he is also a Eucharistic minister and a member of the outreach committee. 

As a minister, he helps read from the scriptures and give out communion. He also visits homebound people, such as the elderly or the sick who may not be able to go out. "Sometimes I just do prayers with them—its  up to them if they want communion or not. Sometimes they are just lonely and just would like to talk,” Budd said of his visits.

For 30 years, he's been a member of the outreach committee, which raises funds for scholarships for young parishioners to attend college. The group gives $1,000 per year the past few years, he said. There could be as few as five or as many as 10 or 12.

The outreach committee also raises money to give to people in need within the community, including people who are not apart of the church. If someone needs help paying their bills they will give money for that or for gas or for some food.

To raise money, the committee usually puts on dinners or pancake breakfasts. Budd said that he and his late friend Louis Bennett started the clam chowder dinners as a way to raise money about 30 years ago. Budd is usally the one in the kitchen.

Tara Mansir, the administrator at St. Luke’s said, “He is such an asset to this church. He is always there. Whatever needs to be done, he never hesitates doing. He is there for dinners, fairs and as Eucharistic minister."

Along with his wife Jean, Budd helps out at Maureen’s Haven. Sometimes, he volunteers to stay overnight. Most often he and his wife cook up the the main entrée for the guests.

Budd, who lives in Springs, has the free time to give back to the community since retiring from teaching 20 years ago. He had been a health teacher and the atheletic director at . He said he missed being with the kids so he took on coaching eight or nine years ago. As a volunteer football couch, he said “I really do very little coaching—I’m like a grandfather who pats the kids on the back and encourages them.”

He has been assisting John Krupp as a couch for the past four years, with and now junior varsity at the high school. He also helps out at the varisty level.

Krupp spoke foundly of Budd. "The one thing about him is he is one of those people you gravitate towards. He is a mentor—he reassures you and makes you feel like you are doing a good job. He is one-of-a-kind.”

Budd said, “Basically, I feel that helping people is possibly the most satisfying thing that a person can do. That’s where it all comes from.”