Lift UPdate:
In Honor of Kevin Larkin
When I first met Kevin Larkin, I was just a volunteer working my way through graduate school. I’d heard about him previously, having done some work in the office and warehouse, and it was apparent he held the respect of the staff and volunteers. I was excited to meet him when I was scheduled for my first shift at Preston’s Pantry.
As the lead volunteer at Preston’s Pantry, his presence was both commanding and approachable. I could see why so many people at Lift UP spoke highly of him.
What I hadn’t anticipated was the boundless dedication and devotion he had for the clients, shoppers, and the community. The commitment Kevin had for ensuring that everyone was treated with the same care and respect came through in all of his actions, from making sure the shelves were organized and stocked to answering questions and pointing out new food items to shoppers. People knew him, and he knew them. He took great care in remembering the people who were regular shoppers and was instantly welcoming and helpful to newcomers.
He also took great pride in overseeing Oregon Food Bank’s Free Food Market program. Arriving no later than 6am on the third Wednesday of every month, he had the tables and food crates ready to go before volunteers arrived. He was meticulous with his setup, with no reason other than making sure each item was displayed in a way that made it easy for 90 people to comfortably shop in under an hour.
Kevin passed away on Monday, June 1 of 2020. He set a standard for me that I continue to strive for in every way Lift UP supports our community. I’d like to share some reflections from those who knew him best:
Kevin gave 110% to the operations of Preston’s Pantry. He was truly the face of Lift UP to our community. Kevin had the respect and affection of everyone from staff, volunteers, clients, and neighbors. He was dedicated to ensuring everyone was treated with dignity and respect. I learned a lot from working with him.
I had the privilege of working with Kevin at the Pantry on Tuesdays. Kevin was intrepid. He worked harder than any of us. He was dedicated to Lift UP and our clients. He was always at the Pantry before we arrived and stayed beyond when we finished our shift. He had a wry sense of humor which added to the camaraderie that our Tuesday group enjoyed. He was a leader though he would never have called himself one. Lift UP and the world lost someone special when Kevin passed away.
Kevin was a wonderful Pantry lead volunteer. He helped me with many things but always did it naturally with a sense of humor. One memory I have is him saying to load the bread loaves with the twist ties in back so the clients could read what type of bread it was. He did this in a way which did not make me feel utterly stupid. And when I worked intake he always helped out with a strange situation or a potential client difficulty. I will truly miss Kevin who volunteered so much of his life to helping people.
I met Kevin during Supper Club. Supper Club was my first experience as a volunteer with Lift UP and he was the building lead so he was one of the first people I met. First and foremost he made me feel welcome in their space, directed me to where to find things and introduced me to all the residents. The other thing I noticed about Kevin is that he was always the guy who volunteered to do the dishes - the task no one wanted to do! But he always jumped in, no questions asked. I feel fortunate to have met Kevin and we were so lucky to have him in the Lift UP community.
The Rose Haven Community had the pleasure of working beside Kevin for many years while we co-located with the Preston's Pantry in Northwest Portland. We will all remember fondly what a gentle soul he carried, and how he was always looking out for the women and children we serve. His kind spirit will be missed by many.
Kevin Larkin was truly a larger than life human being. His life touched the lives of so many in our Northwest community, and I, for one, am changed for so much good for having been his friend.He was truly one of the hardest workers I have ever had the pleasure to work beside. I got to know his humor, his "gruff" exterior at times and his loving, compassionate heart as he toiled, cajoled and interacted with every single client and volunteer who was a part of the pantry. He made such impacts within our neighborhood, among them being with the church staff, Rose Haven staff, Medallion residents and even our houseless friends living on the streets. In the past few weeks, I have been stopped and asked by former pantry clients in the neighborhood as to where and how "that big guy, Kevin" was and how he was doing. That, alone, is testimony to just the impact one very special man can have on a community. May his spirit live on in all of us. I miss you, buddy.
I got to know Kevin a number of years ago. He and I both volunteered at Free Food Market but in different capacities. At first, I found Kevin to be intimidating. He was a big guy with a deep voice and an air of confidence. He always seemed very much in charge. One of his responsibilities was to help set up the food provided by the Oregon Food Bank and arrange it by product. He would then take his position behind the food table to guide the shoppers in their selections. He was very protective of the produce in front of him and firm about the number of items a shopper could take. As I got to know him, however, I recognized a very sweet, caring fellow who took his job very seriously. He was always early to arrive and help set-up, and one of the last to leave. Kevin found joy and fulfillment in volunteering for Lift UP. Those of us who worked with him found joy and fulfillment knowing Kevin.
Kevin was a mountain of helpfulness. It was obvious that Kevin was a "Go-To" individual who got things done at Preston's Pantry.
A couple years back I wrote a dozen or so individually created "thank you" notes for the people at Preston's Pantry. I knew that the day I was there not all who worked at Preston's Pantry would be there, so I asked Kevin to make sure the other folks who worked there got a "thank you" card. When I followed up with Kevin he assured me cards were handed out, and that's all I needed to know.
He was the kind of fellow you thought would always be around doing good things. He will be missed.
As the lead volunteer at Preston’s Pantry, his presence was both commanding and approachable. I could see why so many people at Lift UP spoke highly of him.
What I hadn’t anticipated was the boundless dedication and devotion he had for the clients, shoppers, and the community. The commitment Kevin had for ensuring that everyone was treated with the same care and respect came through in all of his actions, from making sure the shelves were organized and stocked to answering questions and pointing out new food items to shoppers. People knew him, and he knew them. He took great care in remembering the people who were regular shoppers and was instantly welcoming and helpful to newcomers.
He also took great pride in overseeing Oregon Food Bank’s Free Food Market program. Arriving no later than 6am on the third Wednesday of every month, he had the tables and food crates ready to go before volunteers arrived. He was meticulous with his setup, with no reason other than making sure each item was displayed in a way that made it easy for 90 people to comfortably shop in under an hour.
Kevin passed away on Monday, June 1 of 2020. He set a standard for me that I continue to strive for in every way Lift UP supports our community. I’d like to share some reflections from those who knew him best:
Kevin gave 110% to the operations of Preston’s Pantry. He was truly the face of Lift UP to our community. Kevin had the respect and affection of everyone from staff, volunteers, clients, and neighbors. He was dedicated to ensuring everyone was treated with dignity and respect. I learned a lot from working with him.
- Teresa Steichen, Preston’s Pantry Manager
I had the privilege of working with Kevin at the Pantry on Tuesdays. Kevin was intrepid. He worked harder than any of us. He was dedicated to Lift UP and our clients. He was always at the Pantry before we arrived and stayed beyond when we finished our shift. He had a wry sense of humor which added to the camaraderie that our Tuesday group enjoyed. He was a leader though he would never have called himself one. Lift UP and the world lost someone special when Kevin passed away.
- Jil Morby, volunteer and board member
Kevin was a wonderful Pantry lead volunteer. He helped me with many things but always did it naturally with a sense of humor. One memory I have is him saying to load the bread loaves with the twist ties in back so the clients could read what type of bread it was. He did this in a way which did not make me feel utterly stupid. And when I worked intake he always helped out with a strange situation or a potential client difficulty. I will truly miss Kevin who volunteered so much of his life to helping people.
- Chip Brown, Preston’s Pantry Volunteer
I met Kevin during Supper Club. Supper Club was my first experience as a volunteer with Lift UP and he was the building lead so he was one of the first people I met. First and foremost he made me feel welcome in their space, directed me to where to find things and introduced me to all the residents. The other thing I noticed about Kevin is that he was always the guy who volunteered to do the dishes - the task no one wanted to do! But he always jumped in, no questions asked. I feel fortunate to have met Kevin and we were so lucky to have him in the Lift UP community.
- Michelle Roseborough, Supper Club volunteer
- Mark Uhrich, volunteer and former board member
- Mark Todd, former volunteer at Preston's Pantry
- Monica McKune - Preston’s Pantry volunteer
The Rose Haven Community had the pleasure of working beside Kevin for many years while we co-located with the Preston's Pantry in Northwest Portland. We will all remember fondly what a gentle soul he carried, and how he was always looking out for the women and children we serve. His kind spirit will be missed by many.
- Katie O'Brien, Executive Director of Rose Haven
Kevin Larkin was truly a larger than life human being. His life touched the lives of so many in our Northwest community, and I, for one, am changed for so much good for having been his friend.He was truly one of the hardest workers I have ever had the pleasure to work beside. I got to know his humor, his "gruff" exterior at times and his loving, compassionate heart as he toiled, cajoled and interacted with every single client and volunteer who was a part of the pantry. He made such impacts within our neighborhood, among them being with the church staff, Rose Haven staff, Medallion residents and even our houseless friends living on the streets. In the past few weeks, I have been stopped and asked by former pantry clients in the neighborhood as to where and how "that big guy, Kevin" was and how he was doing. That, alone, is testimony to just the impact one very special man can have on a community. May his spirit live on in all of us. I miss you, buddy.
- Susan Wolfe, Preston’s Pantry volunteer
I got to know Kevin a number of years ago. He and I both volunteered at Free Food Market but in different capacities. At first, I found Kevin to be intimidating. He was a big guy with a deep voice and an air of confidence. He always seemed very much in charge. One of his responsibilities was to help set up the food provided by the Oregon Food Bank and arrange it by product. He would then take his position behind the food table to guide the shoppers in their selections. He was very protective of the produce in front of him and firm about the number of items a shopper could take. As I got to know him, however, I recognized a very sweet, caring fellow who took his job very seriously. He was always early to arrive and help set-up, and one of the last to leave. Kevin found joy and fulfillment in volunteering for Lift UP. Those of us who worked with him found joy and fulfillment knowing Kevin.
- Nikki Director, Free Food Market volunteer
Kevin was a mountain of helpfulness. It was obvious that Kevin was a "Go-To" individual who got things done at Preston's Pantry.
A couple years back I wrote a dozen or so individually created "thank you" notes for the people at Preston's Pantry. I knew that the day I was there not all who worked at Preston's Pantry would be there, so I asked Kevin to make sure the other folks who worked there got a "thank you" card. When I followed up with Kevin he assured me cards were handed out, and that's all I needed to know.
He was the kind of fellow you thought would always be around doing good things. He will be missed.
- Rich Riegel
Kevin was featured in this video I put together for Lift UP a few years back. He was a sweet man with a big heart. I will miss him.
- Katie Ash, volunteer and former staff member