Gaye Polan has been an invaluable volunteer at Trinity Center since 2014, offering her expertise and assistance serving thousands of women experiencing homelessness. 

On Monday mornings, the Trinity Center in downtown Austin provides a program called Woman to Woman for women experiencing homelessness. This program offers a safe space, breakfast, case management, mail services, and a clothing closet to women in need. The clothing closet is where all-star volunteer Gaye Polan shines, preparing the clothes each Monday morning and distributing outfits to any women experiencing homelessness. Recently, she became a personal shopper as well, making sure everyone is satisfied and feels great in the clothes they’ve chosen from the closet.

Gaye’s commitment doesn’t end with the Woman to Woman program though – she also takes charge of organizing and sorting all the off-season clothing that the Trinity Center receives. She truly goes above and beyond, even bringing donations home to work on alterations or mending garments long after the center closes for the day. Gaye was also instrumental in establishing a collaborative effort between Tarrytown United Methodist Church and the Trinity Center to bring a Men’s Shower Ministry to fruition, the first shower ministry for men in the Trinity Center’s history.

Eunice Garcia, Volunteer and Communications Coordinator at Trinity Center has praised Gaye. “Her unwavering dedication and passion make her an invaluable and compassionate volunteer,” she says. Gaye’s contributions have greatly impacted the lives of those she has helped and she serves as an inspiration to others who volunteer their time and resources to assist those in need.