Volunteer Spotlight: Jessi Border
Jessi is a US Air Force veteran. She is a mother of two, works in real estate, and healthcare in the field of radiology. Jessi has been volunteering with GV for over a year now and I got the privilege to sit down and talk with her about her time here:
Q: What has been your biggest takeaway from the last year of volunteering at GV?
A: “I think just the sense of community and definitely being able to kind of open up more and talk about my feelings. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place where people can openly talk about mental health and it be okay and not like, ‘Oh, Just get it over it.’ That kind of thing. Then, of course, learning a lot about farming and a sense of community, for sure. This is the first veteran organization that I’ve really worked with. I was always nervous to join any of the other ones, thinking I wasn’t going to be totally accepted. This one (GV) was very open and welcoming and I definitely feel like I fit in here. Doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or girl, or whatever branch you were in, all that stuff. That’s probably my biggest takeaway.”
Q: How did you originally hear about GV?
A: “On Instagram. I was scrolling on Instagram when my son was in surgery and that was right when I was in kind of a very dark place and I was like, ‘Oh, what is this?’ And I looked into it and they (GV) were advertising their silent auction. So, I decided to bid on one of the items, which was a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box and, when I came out here to pick up my certificate for it, I came in and I was initially really nervous to walk in; but everybody, including Sean, Jered, and Angela, was here and they were very welcoming and asked a little bit about who I am and then I asked about volunteering here. I think it was the next Friday I came out and started volunteering and then I’ve been here since.”
Q: What has kept you volunteering? What keeps you coming out to the farm?
A: “Just that sense of community. I feel like I can talk to people here about things that I don’t necessarily feel I can talk to people about in my own life. Kind of like what we talked about earlier (a previous conversation that Jessi and I had regarding how veterans can view things differently) how the veteran mindset is just a little bit different sometimes, and so, talking to my family, I just feel like they don’t get it, but talking to people out here everybody is like, ‘Yeah, I’ve been through that. I totally understand.’ So, definitely a place where I feel comfortable talking about things that I normally wouldn’t talk about to civilian people, you know?'“
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: “I like to hike. I’m really into barbecue (I have tried Jessi’s barbecue and it’s absolutely delicious) and I like barbecuing for people. And so, I do that quite a bit. And then I play a little bit of drums. I’m not by any means a drummer, but working on it. I’m still learning all the basics, but I play mostly rock. It’s something I just kind of picked up in the last year. It’s a nice outlet. My great uncle was a drummer and he was actually in the military too, and so I think maybe it runs in the family. I like to workout and I really, really like doing anything outside and spending time with my family. Me and my daughter are really into ghost things and so we watch all those shows together.”
Q: Do you have a favorite memory with GV?
A: “I don’t know if I have one specific memory. I think just every week that I come out here is awesome. But probably my first day out here, because I had read on the website about dirt therapy and things like that and, I was thinking, ‘Okay, whatever.’ And I came out and I literally felt so much better. We were planting a whole bunch of kale and squash and all that stuff right in the front field and the whole time everybody that was out there was asking who I am and what I’m about. You know, that kind of thing and it just felt like everybody was super welcoming and friendly and just getting out there and working in the dirt and things like that. I seriously left feeling so much better, like energized and in a super good mood. I never leave here feeling sad, even if I’ve had a bad week or something. Once I come out here, and I’m out here for a couple of hours, I leave and I feel great.”
Q: What would you say to someone if they were thinking about volunteering at GV?
A: “Just do it. Just come out for a day and there’s no strings attached. You can just come out for a day and if you decide it’s not for you, fine, but I guarantee you’ll get something out of it.”
Q: What is a fun, or random, fact about yourself?
A: “I was a mechanic when I was in the military. That’s an interesting fact, I guess. I grew up on a ranch in California. I’ve worked in healthcare the past 10 years. I donated a kidney for my son. He’s 4. He had a kidney transplant last year. He overall is doing really good. he’s able to play and have the stamina to play just like all the other kids. That’s really cool to see. It’s always kind of a roller coaster because we’re always checking his labs and adjusting medications and sometimes we have to go in for infusions and stuff like that, but overall, he’s doing really good.”
It was a pleasure getting to know Jessi a little better and we’re happy that she was able to find GV and stuck around! It’s always a great time when Jessi is able to come out and volunteer and if you’re thinking about possibly coming out to the farm, in the words of Jessi, “Just do it.”
