When Terri Preston retired, she knew she wanted to dedicate part of her time to giving back to the community. She’d long admired Harford Family House’s mission, especially after hearing about it from family friend Bill “Bowtie” White, one of the organization’s founders back when it was known as Holy Family House.
“I wasn’t sure what I would have to offer at first,” Terri admits. “But one of the best things about volunteering with HFH is the variety of opportunities available.”
She’s not kidding, Terri has done it all. From cleaning and setting up apartments for new clients, organizing the food pantry, and painting offices, to working at fundraising events like AHOY! Cocktails by the Bay, Homeruns for the Homeless, and Hope for Harford’s Homeless Golf Tournament. She’s also pitched in at special events like Trunk or Treat, handed out candy to excited children, and even participated in a Habitat for Humanity build for the Nanfack family.
No matter what the task, Terri approaches it with enthusiasm and heart. “I get great satisfaction from setting up apartments for new clients,” she shares. “This may be the first time in a long time that they’ve had somewhere safe to call home.”
Terri says one of her favorite parts of volunteering is simply being with the HFH staff and fellow volunteers. “Everyone here is emotionally invested in the success of HFH. The staff is always expressing their appreciation for the work done by volunteers, and that means a lot.”
Her takeaway from her time with HFH? “While the need is great and always growing, there is hope as long as there are organizations like HFH working tirelessly every day to assist families and individuals experiencing homelessness.”
And hope is exactly what Terri helps bring—over 100 hours of it this year alone! Through Bank of America’s volunteer grant program, her service hours have resulted in $1,000 in donations to HFH in 2025.
It’s no surprise she won the MVP Award at our Volunteer Breakfast. As we shared then:
“Terri Preston… is a rock star. She comes in every Tuesday ready to dive into her assignment, often with a bag of items she found at her local Ollie’s that were on our Wishlist. Terri always goes the extra mile and never lets a project go unfinished. No task is too big for her—just so long as she gets it done before she gets hungry! Her warm heart and witty remarks brighten the days of everyone she encounters.”
Terri’s dedication, humor, and compassion truly embody the spirit of Harford Family House. We’re grateful to have her as part of our HFH family.