Ann Barlow has been serving the unhoused in Austin through The Charlie Center every Wednesday for several years now, serving hot meals to nearly 16,000 clients.

The Charlie Center is a nonprofit community center whose mission is to serve unhoused Austinites. The organization meets physical needs through hospitality and healthcare, also providing navigation services to help individuals take their next step toward permanent housing. It relies on volunteers to help them to serve their clients experiencing homelessness – one who stands out is Ann Barlow.

Since the launch of The Charlie Center in 2021, Ann has served meals to nearly 16,000 individuals to date. Beyond her main responsibility serving hot, healthy meals, she goes above and beyond driving clients to rehab centers and medical appointments to get help. When the serving kitchen is short on volunteers, she puts on her recruiter hat and has brought a whopping 75 members of the community to sign on as volunteers with The Charlie Center by spreading its message! Ann coordinates the hot meal that is served every Wednesday – as the coordinator, she has to make sure there is enough food for 100-130 people. She manages everything; reaching out if they don’t have enough volunteers, picking up food donations from various locations, buying food herself when necessary, ensuring the food is handled and served with the appropriate food safety protocols, and ensuring all the people who come in hungry are fed a nourishing meal before they leave!

Ann is not only a beacon of light to the clients at The Charlie Center, but to the entire team as well! Says Hospitality Lead Jennifer Mayer, “Ann always has a smile and a loving word for everyone. She makes each person feel loved and valued. Her commitment to The Charlie Center makes her really go the extra mile, whether it’s going out of her way to pick up some donations or just looking for ways to improve service. Her true love for her fellow humans inspires me, and her authentic care and sense of humor lift all of us up when we need it. Ann is a treasure!” Ann is sure to leave everyone she serves with a smile, and a full stomach!