If you’ve ever volunteered at VEAP, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Kay Chaney. A longtime Bloomington resident and passionate advocate for her neighbors, Kay has been part of the VEAP family for nearly two decades. Her journey began back in 2007, when she first volunteered while between jobs—and picked right back up again after retirement.
“I’ve volunteered with other nonprofits,” Kay shares, “but VEAP just made sense to me. It’s about getting food to people who need it. That’s a basic human need.” Over the years, Kay has done just about everything—sorting donations, helping in the pantry, supporting outreach events, even training fellow volunteers to speak about VEAP in the community. “I just love this organization,” she says. “It’s a place where people show up for each other.”
As she saw need growing and resources shrinking, Kay’s role naturally expanded into advocacy. “People don’t always realize how bad things have gotten. Even folks working multiple jobs can’t always afford food. And when funding gets cut, we feel it immediately.” She’s especially concerned about children, seniors, and newcomers—people who often suffer silently.
Still, she remains grounded in hope. “People think $5 or $10 won’t help, but it absolutely does. We once had a child hand us four cans of soup from the backseat of a car—that’s four meals for a family. It all adds up.” Kay believes that generosity is contagious, and that the smallest gestures can spark something much bigger.
What keeps Kay coming back? “It’s the humanity I witness at VEAP every day. I’ve watched someone walk out with their groceries and start eating right away—they were that hungry. That’s why I keep showing up. That’s why advocacy matters.” As she likes to say, “You don’t have to do everything—just something. And together, it turns into a lot.”
If you’re interested in becoming a VEAP Ambassador, please reach out to Becky Patton, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, at beckyp@veap.org.