Heather Lamb has been recognized as the 2021 U-Haul Volunteer of the Year.
Lamb, rate monitor at U-Haul, always dedicated herself to serving others. Even before she joined U-Haul, she sought opportunities to utilize her time and talents on behalf of those in need.
“I have been a Team Member for more than a decade, and have always loved volunteering, but only really started doing it through U-Haul five years ago,” Lamb said. “My kids were growing up and becoming more independent, so I was looking for productive ways to fill my free time. I began helping out at annual work conferences and things like that, and just moved on from there.”
This U-Haul Volunteer of the Year award celebrates the Team Member at U-Haul Company’s Phoenix headquarters who has volunteered the most hours, supported the greatest number of U-Haul charity partners and has inspired others to follow in their footsteps during the past year.
U-Haul enriches the communities in which it does business by assisting organizations that address the most basic human needs: food, clothing and shelter. The Company focuses on partnering with and sponsoring organizations that directly meet these needs, as well as many groups that support veterans and members of the military. In addition, it offers many local volunteer opportunities to its Phoenix-based Team Members each year and encourages all to look for ways to serve and give back to their communities.
A spirit of service
Throughout 2021, Lamb made participating in volunteer events a top priority. She consistently volunteered with six different U-Haul partners, including St. Mary’s Food Bank, the Ronald McDonald House and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. While each experience was unique, a common denominator for Lamb was the lasting happiness that serving others has brought her.
“Making time for volunteering isn’t always easy, especially during the holiday season and other hectic periods of the year,” Lamb said. “A few days before this most recent Christmas, for example, some team members and I prepared and served dinner to several families who were staying at the Ronald McDonald House. To be honest, I initially wondered how I would fit this in with everything else on my holiday to-do list. But when we pulled together as a team and did our absolute best to provide those families with a yummy holiday meal, the joy that we experienced made it all worth it.
“When I volunteer, I always get far more out of it than I give. My husband and I make volunteering a priority in our marriage, and we consistently teach our kids about the importance of giving back. I will definitely keep taking advantage of the many amazing service opportunities that U-Haul makes available.”
Inspiring her peers
Lamb’s manager, Rates and Distribution project coordinator Kate Fulkerson, loves her fellow Team Member’s enthusiastic desire to serve. So much so, in fact, that she’s usually right by Lamb’s side at U-Haul volunteer events.
“Heather is a self-motivated, energetic team member who will jump in whenever and wherever she’s needed,” Fulkerson said. “She stays on top of her regular day-to-day workload, all while cheerfully volunteering for more. She and I are both very grateful to U-Haul leaders for not only allowing but encouraging us to take advantage of any U-Haul service opportunities that come our way.
“At the end of the day, I know of no team member who is more deserving of the Volunteer of the Year Award than Heather. She has proven that it is possible to balance a career, family and volunteer service, all while inspiring others to follow her example. She’s absolutely amazing, and I’m so lucky to know her.”
To read more about previous U-Haul Volunteers of the Year, click here.
