Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Deacon Gary Hager

✨ VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT ✨

Meet Deacon Gary Hager, a Catholic deacon from Detroit Lakes, MN, whose passion for service and interfaith connection led him to bring a volunteer team to Asheville to work with NECHAMA.

Deacon Gary works as a quality engineer at BTD Manufacturing, but service has long been a central part of his life - he has been participating in mission trips for nearly 20 years! This was his first service trip since the pandemic broke out , and he rallied a group of 15 youth and adults from Holy Rosary Catholic Church to volunteer alongside him. When looking into organizations working in Asheville that would accept 14-year old volunteers, Deacon Gary found NECHAMA and was excited for the opportunity to work with a Jewish organization: “So much of the Catholic tradition comes from Judaism and our faiths share many similar values, including the desire to help God’s kingdom on Earth flourish.” He also explained how the role of a deacon is one of service, which he felt was a good connection with NECHAMA’s mission.

When asked what he would like to share with potential volunteers, Deacon Gary said, “I encourage anyone to consider volunteering with NECHAMA - they have the resources available to help residents and business owners restore their livelihoods. People who volunteer create relationships with NECHAMA’s staff and North Carolina residents; it was a beautiful experience to help someone restore their way of life.”

Deacon Gary hopes to join us again wherever we’re working next summer, and we look forward to welcoming him and the Holy Rosary community back!