10/01/2026
This is Bonnie. And we think more people should know her name. â€ïž
For our September Spread the Kindness project, we chose Agnes' Table & Community Center. Justin and I put together 160 snack bags to hand out during meal service, with the extras going to the local food pantry, and joined members of the Noon Kiwanis Chippewa Falls for a volunteer shift.
Thatâs where we got to spend an evening with BonnieâŠ
And within about five minutes, one thing became very clear: Bonnie runs a tight ship đ
She was everywhere. Giving directions. Answering questions. Correcting us when we needed it. Making sure meals went out the way they were supposed to. Her name was being called from every direction, and she knew exactly what needed to happen next.
But as the night went on, we started seeing something much bigger.
We watched person after person come through the meal line and stop when they got to Bonnie. They knew her. They talked with her. They smiled at her. They hugged her.
And suddenly, we understood.
Bonnie isnât simply there to serve a meal.
She shows up for people.
Then we started learning more about her.
Since July, Bonnie has undergone two hand surgeries and a foot surgery and she continued to serve our community throughout that time. The evening we volunteered was her first night without her bootâand she was still running circles around the rest of us. đ
She serves at Agnesâ Table every Tuesday and Thursday. And because that isnât enough giving for one human being, she also spends another three days each week working with Food Rescue.
Five. days. a. week.
Serving. Organizing. Feeding people. Showing up.
By the end of our shift, our backs hurt. Our feet hurt. We were tired and hungryâand all I could think was:
Bonnie does this all the time. đ
At Babel, we say âTogether We Grow Stronger.â
Sometimes that can sound like a nice tagline.
And then you meet a Bonnie.
The people quietly doing the hard work. The people who donât need recognition before they show up. The people who know their neighbors by name and give their time, energy, and heart without anything in return simply because somebody needs them.
The people who, whether they realize it or not, become pillars of our community.
Bonnie, you absolutely blew us away.
Thank you for whipping us into shape. đ Thank you for letting us work beside you. Thank you for inspiring us. And most importantly, thank you for everything you do when nobody is standing there taking a picture.
Our community is stronger because youâre in it. â€ïž
Together We Grow Stronger.
â Grace & Justin
Babel Revenue Services