Kforce Employee Spotlight: Hannah Kradenpoth
Our employees make Kforce a unique, fun and fulfilling place to work. Hear directly from our employees across our Firm on what their role entails, and why they love being a part of our Kforce Family.
This week’s Employee Spotlight highlights Hannah Kradenpoth, a Technical Recruiter who connects talented people with amazing opportunities in our Seattle area office. In addition to spending time outdoors with her family and friends, Hannah loves finding ways to help out in her community. She discussed her work with the Union Gospel Mission of Seattle, a women and children’s shelter that works to provide assistance to homeless families within the greater Seattle area.
How did you get involved with the Union Gospel Mission of Seattle?
I got involved with the Union Gospel Mission – Women’s and Children’s Shelter about 10 years ago. It started with just my mom and me making five or six blankets to donate. Once I joined 4H, we did various stewardship events and I proposed donating blankets to my team. Our five blankets a year turned into 20 to 30, depending on the size of our group. Unfortunately, when I graduated 4H, the number of blankets being donated went back down to what I could donate personally. When I volunteered to help plan the stewardship event for the Seattle Office this quarter, I knew exactly what we would do!
How did the Seattle office contribute this year to the Union Gospel Mission of Seattle?
With the help of my team, we were able to create 22 fleece tie blankets to donate. They’re pretty easy to make, but they take about an hour for each. You take two pieces of fleece, cut the corners out, then cut strips along the sides and tie together.
Have you ever had the opportunity to meet anyone who benefited from the blankets you have donated? What’s one of the most rewarding parts of working with this organization?
The UGM usually takes the blankets in, washes them, then sends them out to families in need, so we never really had a chance to meet with anyone who received a blanket. In the past, they’ve sent us thank you notes expressing how excited they were to receive such a cozy and handmade gift.
One of the most rewarding parts of working with this organization is the fact that you know that your donation will actually go to a person in need. In the facility where we dropped the blankets off, there are people who are utilizing the services provided by the Women’s and Children’s shelter. They even house some families right there at that location. It’s such a great feeling to drop the blankets off and know they will be going to the people who need them most.
Why do you personally feel this particular charity is important to support?
I am so blessed in my life; I have an amazing job here at Kforce, a car and a warm house to go to every night – not many people have that. We have such a large homeless population in the Seattle area, which includes women and children. It breaks my heart to know I have so much and others have so little. I don’t think anyone should go hungry or cold, and this organization is working to stop both.
What are some ways others can get involved?
Check out their websiteIt’s a great resource to see upcoming events and to check out what items are needed for them. If anyone would like to donate blankets with me next year, they can reach out to [the Seattle office] directly!