Saint Francis 2023 Annual Report

Staff Spotlight Kris Sorensen Services Coordinator

It is often just one small connection that can make a major shift in the direction of life. In this case, we are so glad it did. Kris Sorensen first happened upon Saint Francis after her friend, Deb Duerk, now Saint Francis Director of Operations, urged her to get involved nearly 20 years ago. “I remember thinking, on that very first day I started volunteering, that this was a place where everyone was so invested in the mission and doing things well,” says Kris. For more than six years, Kris was a dedicated volunteer, doing everything from puppy sitting to extra filing and paperwork. She quickly grew to love the mission and soul of what we do at Saint Francis, and jumped at the chance to apply for the role of Administrative Assistant in 2013. “Having started as a volunteer and donor, I can’t think of a better organization to be involved with. The

work we do is so important to so many people, and being involved in even a small part of the process is so incredibly rewarding,” Kris says. Kris has an innate ability to connect with the people around her. Whether she is interacting with her co-workers, donors, volunteers, candidates or partners, she has the rare gift of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. During her time at Saint Francis, she has worn a lot of hats, from Administrative Assistant to Volunteer Coordinator to the newly created role of Services Coordinator. With her extensive prior career experience working with children and adults with disabilities in a camp setting, group homes, and as a case manager - it is a position that she is perfectly suited for. Kris says, “I work closely with the people we serve, following them through the process from application all the way to matching and beyond. I spend a lot of my time

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