Community Ambassador: Valerie Johnson

Empowering a community can start with a single meal 

Valerie isn’t just using her people skills in her leadership position on Amplify’s Human Resources team, she’s also building connections through her volunteer work.

The Power of Food 

Long before Amplify, Valerie was busy devoting her time to community. 

“I grew up in a household where giving back was the norm”, Valerie explains. Home life was filled with a service-centered mindset. Her dad ran a nonprofit that focused on feeding people experiencing homelessness, which played a huge part in her regular volunteer activities with Meals on Wheels. Forming connections with people that she sees consistently is one of Valerie’s favorite parts of her volunteer work.  

“I’ve always believed in the power of food to bring people together and provide comfort”

“I’ve always believed in the power of food to bring people together and provide comfort, so volunteering in spaces where I can help feed people, or support them and their pets, has always felt meaningful to me.” 

However, home life isn’t the only aspect that played a part in Valerie’s passion for giving. Her career as a Human Resources Team Lead energizes her to find new ways to lend a hand to her community.  

“I find that my HR background can be useful. Whether it’s helping facilitate conversations, improving communication, or offering guidance in nonprofit spaces, the skills I use in my day job often translate well into volunteer work.”

Why Amplify? 

This Amplify HR Team Lead had a thoughtful response when asked what drew her to Amplify: Amplify takes community impact seriously. As someone who grew up encouraged to serve the community, working for a company that actively shows up was nonnegotiable. Valerie expressed how proud she is to work for a company that shows up in so many ways, whether it’s social impact work, volunteer initiatives, or member-focused programs.  

A Standout Experience 

One of Valerie’s favorite memories with Meals on Wheels involved her partner-in-crime, Eddie—her dog. When she arrived to pick up food for her PALS delivery, another volunteer was eager to show Valerie and her pup a surprise for them: a bandana for Eddie! 

“I had been volunteering for about three years at that point, and it brought me so much joy that Eddie was being recognized too. When we went on our route that day, everyone commented on his bandana and loved seeing him dressed as an “official volunteer.” It was such a fun and heartwarming moment.” 

Valerie’s Advice to New Volunteers 

Starting your volunteering journey can be as simple as finding something that involves what you already enjoy doing, according to Valerie. For her, that means finding programs that involve baking, food, animals, or theater. That’s how she was naturally led to the Meals on Wheels PALS program, and how she became a board member for Ground Floor Theatre.  

“If you start with something you love, it doesn’t feel like a chore, it feels like a natural extension of what already brings you joy.”