Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Kunkel.
Hi Joe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was in third grade, I met a WWI veteran named Mr. Patrick. Each week, I volunteered at his nursing home. He shared his history with me – sometimes war stories, but more often tales from his everyday life and reminisces about the presidents he’d lived through. I provided Mr. Patrick with companionship and a link to the outside world, and he provided me with a new perspective on the world. It was my first experience with Alzheimer’s and memory loss, which directly impacted my family the next year, as my great-grandmother suffered the same illness. It also helped me begin to see the wonderful side of aging – the wisdom, the stories, and enjoying the simple things in life. Mr. Patrick passed on, but I never forgot the lessons I learned with him – particularly how a person’s social network is a critical factor in their own health and happiness. When it was time to choose a career, I didn’t yet understand that I could turn my passion for seniors into a career, but I was certain I wanted to make a major impact on my community, connecting people to services and improving their lives, so I went into social work. While pursuing a Master’s of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, I began working on grants, which helped me understand how to improve community health on a larger, systemic level. Again, I found myself gravitating towards seniors, and I took a position at the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging (now SC Department on Aging) in Columbia, SC. This experience taught me how to run a business, which in turn allows us to serve the community more efficiently.
In 2013, I was offered the opportunity to become Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor, a non-profit headquartered in Myrtle Beach that connects homebound clients with volunteers to provide transportation solutions. I’ve been here ever since, helping fight senior isolation – and surfing waves in my spare time!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The Waccamaw region (including Myrtle Beach) has continued to be one of the fastest-growing areas for retirees in the country since 2010. When I first came to Neighbor to Neighbor, our annual budget was only 70k, which was hugely inadequate for the size of the population we needed to serve. We were one of the only non-profits in the area directly serving seniors, despite seniors being an enormous part of the area’s population. We struggled to get the right level of awareness, grow the local expertise, and increase of resources. Sometimes it’s easier to ignore the challenges of aging. Nobody wants to see themselves or their loved ones as aging or frail, but inevitably it becomes a part of who we each are. It’s better to have a plan and stay committed to being physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. Neighbor to Neighbor’s mission is designed to combat that.
I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful volunteers and clients over these past ten years who have since died, and have had time to hear their stories, learn valuable lessons, and help connect their giving hearts to services in their final years. This has truly deepened my gratitude to preserve and enhance the beautiful aspects of volunteering, giving, and community service.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m most proud of the way I’ve been able to expand Neighbor to Neighbor to provide more services for seniors in our community. Under my watch, N2N grew from 3 staff to now 13 staff. Our annual budget has grown 2,757%, funded by a combination of grants and donations. This money has allowed us to drastically expand our service area, which now reaches all of Horry, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties in SC as well as Brunswick County in North Carolina. We’ve also expanded our program offerings. Our main focus will always be transportation, providing rides to seniors so they can go to the grocery store, get haircuts, and do all the other activities that keep them connected to the community. We’ve also been able to add pantry delivery services, wellness phone calls, and in-home companionship. One of the things I’m known for is the best-in-class execution of the business aspects of the non-profit. I’m a numbers nerd, and I genuinely love maintaining our financial records. It might seem dry to some people, but I could talk about it all day. Our organization has been recognized several times for superior management. In 2016, Together SC named Neighbor to Neighbor Non-Profit of the Year for Governance and Management. In 2019, we received the prestigious SC Secretary of State Angel Award. We have a stellar track record for using our donors’ funds wisely. 86% of our funds are used directly for services for our clients.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Yes! Giving your time, even for a few hours a week, is proven to improve your mental and physical health, so sign up at riden2n.org to volunteer or give us a call at 843-839-0702 to schedule a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://riden2n.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riden2n/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/riden2n
