August Volunteers of the Month: Hans & Marion Loyda
Hans and Marion Loyda have been deeply involved with The Sharing Place since around 2019, when they moved to Indiana from Tucson, Arizona. Both have served as program leaders at different times, bringing with them valuable experience from their volunteer work in Tucson, where they supported families in local schools through food assistance and partnered with a food bank.
When Marion needed to step away, Hans stepped in and quickly became a vital part of the pantry team. Over the years, they have taken on nearly every volunteer role at The Sharing Place, including SilverBox, registration, leadership, and more.
In September 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hans recognized that in-person shopping would be especially difficult for higher-risk and home-bound neighbors. He worked with the pantry coordinator to create a home delivery program, and within days they had responses from about 30 households. The program continued for several months, eventually bringing in partners like Christ the Savior and Holy Cross. These churches provided rotating volunteer teams that helped grow the effort to serve 73 neighbors to this day.
Even while balancing life’s demands, the Loydas have remained connected to The Sharing Place. After a brief break, Hans returned to volunteer with the SilverBox program in April, and by May he rejoined the Tuesday registration team. Through it all, Hans says his faith has been the foundation of his service. He often reflects that “God loves everyone” and believes his calling, whether in Tucson or Indianapolis, is to follow God’s lead and serve wherever there is need.
To those considering volunteering, the Loydas say, “There is always flexibility here, and there is always something you can do.” As The Sharing Place grows busier, more helping hands are always welcome.
Hans and Marion have three daughters and four grandchildren, all close in age. Outside of volunteering, they love spending time with their family and take great joy in watching their grandchildren learn and grow.
