Celebrating National Social Work Month: Honoring Our Social Workers

Why Do You Work Here?

I was working as a therapist and each of my clients had nutritional needs. I spent a lot of time talking to them about sleep and food. Casually on Instagram, I saw a clip of Sheryl Crow performing at Love Rocks NYC. I had no idea what the concert was. I googled God’s Love, and the mission was exactly what my clients needed. A couple of years later when I was looking for a change, I remembered GLWD and the position for Behavioral Health Program Administrator was posted. I knew I had found my next career!

Why Did You Go Into Social Work?

I am a person on the move. I like change. Social work allows me to work at the macro, mezzo, and micro level. It is also a profession that not only asks, but demands that you live out a restorative practice—focusing on building relationships and repairing harm in communities and between individuals. God’s Love allows me to work at this level and I am so grateful!

What Does Your Social Work Background Do for Our Clients and Mission?

Cultural competency and social justice inform all social workers. As a social worker, I never walk into the room thinking that I know what is best for the client; the client is the expert in their own experience. Food is a human right, and everyone should have the food that nourishes their bodies and their souls. Each time I engage a client and connect them to nutritious meals, I am a living example of all social workers.

Is There Anything Else You Want to Share?

A lot of our referrals come from social workers. I want them to know that we see you and we are so grateful that you put the people you care for in our care. That is so much trust, and we take that very seriously. Happy Social Workers Month!

Why Do You Work Here?

I grew up in a big family that always emphasized the importance of gathering and sharing a meal together, especially when people became ill. When I was in elementary school, I was slowly learning to read, and recipes were short and easy to understand, plus they had the added incentive of producing something delicious at the end.

By the time I was in high school, my love of food was solidified, and I was reading everything about it. My older cousin, whom I admire, is a nutritionist, so I poured over her books. Their information on nutrients, whole foods, and food systems still fascinates me. I dabbled in many jobs across the food industry, even becoming a sourdough bread baker using local heritage wheat. At the time, I also volunteered at several food‑based non‑profit organizations, one of which was God’s Love, which always stayed in my mind.

God’s Love We Deliver sits at the intersection of health and access to nutritious food. Anyone can become seriously ill, and anyone can experience hunger. The combination of the two is especially devastating. God’s Love nurtures people through some of the most difficult moments of their and their families’ lives with care, urgency, and respect.

As a social worker, I’m proud to support an organization with a grassroots history. God’s Love began serving New Yorkers during the AIDS crisis, at a time when 20,000+ people had already died before the government publicly began addressing it. Now, 40 years later, we still have that spirit of compassion, community, and responsiveness.”

Why Did You Go Into Social Work?

During COVID, I saw firsthand how food drew communities together. When I ran my own delivery‑only bakery, I was surprised to find most orders were gifts from one ‘pod’ to another—a gesture of love and a bid for connection during a time when people were isolated.

I went into social work because my background in Psychology and the restaurant industry taught me that bringing comfort and care through community had transformative, healing powers. The NYU Silver School of Social Work MSW program allowed me to bring those perspectives together through macro‑level work, focusing on nonprofit funds utilization through storytelling and philanthropy, as well as changing systems and policy through adaptive leadership.

When I received my LMSW, I was looking for a position that could use my macro‑level social work training. When God’s Love posted for a Development Associate in Institutional Giving, I knew I had found the perfect match.

What Does Your Social Work Background Bring to Our Clients and Mission?

My social work training shapes the way I approach development and grant writing. Social work centers clients as the experts of their own experiences and highlights their autonomy and strengths, which is more empowering—and more effective—than a ‘sad story.’

I keep this in mind when writing and communicating with constituents. Many of our donors also have personal experiences with malnutrition or chronic illness, so approaching them with compassion and holding space for their stories is an important part of stewarding those relationships.

At NYU, I studied adaptive leadership as part of a fellowship where we practiced approaching complex systems with nuance and curiosity. We use these skills every day at God’s Love We Deliver, addressing the needs of clients, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders who make our work possible. Social work gives me the lens to see opportunities to connect, empower, and create meaningful impact that will sustain the organization long‑term.

Anything Else You’d Like to Share?

For budding social workers, I want to emphasize how essential your lens is in any organization. Find a mission that resonates with you, and you will find people who feel the same call to action. Then, every day will fill you with gratitude.

Working at God’s Love, I am reminded of the impact we have on people’s lives every single day, every time I have the privilege of sitting down and enjoying a meal. At a time when so much feels out of our control, God’s Love—and organizations like it—are places where you can make a difference.

Thank You, Social Workers

This National Social Work Month, we celebrate Lori, Natalie, Samantha, and all social workers—within our organization and across our partner networks—who lead with heart, advocate for equity, and believe deeply in the dignity of every person.

Your work across population health, philanthropy, and community partnerships makes our mission possible. We see you. We thank you. And we honor you.