National Volunteer Month: April 2026
Meet Chris LaPrade: the heart behind the hugs at Abby’s House Thrift Store.
April is National Volunteer Month!! A time to celebrate the people who show up not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to. At Abby’s House, we are incredibly lucky to have one of those people in Chris LaPrade.
After 17 years in the telecom industry supporting complex sales contracts (the kind of work where every detail of a service agreement had to be exactly right) Chris retired in 2012. But retirement didn’t stick. “I lasted eight months,” she laughs. Even after going back part-time, she eventually found herself fully retired and looking for something more meaningful than a paycheck.
“I didn’t want another job. I wanted to volunteer and do some good for somebody.”
— Chris LaPrade
Chris had heard of Abby’s House and decided to check it out. She almost talked herself out of applying. “I was hesitant, maybe they were looking for someone specific,” she recalls. But she took the leap, came in for an interview, and made her intentions clear from day one: if anything needs to be done, put my name there.
Two Worlds, One Family
What started with data entry and writing thank-you notes upstairs quickly blossomed into something more. Curious about how the thrift store operated, Chris asked to come downstairs and learn the ropes. She discovered an entire world, including a color-coded hanger system, and fell in love with it.
Today, Chris moves fluidly between the administrative office and the thrift floor, and she’s quick to say both feel like home. “Upstairs: family. Downstairs: family. That’s how close I’ve become with my two worlds.” Her enthusiasm doesn’t stay within the walls of 52 High Street, either. “I drive my children and friends crazy talking about it,” she says, completely unashamed.
“When I’m downstairs with them, it’s family. Upstairs — family. We are all such good friends now.”
— Chris LaPrade
The Hugging Fest
Ask Chris about her favorite part of volunteering and she doesn’t hesitate: the customers. She’s built real relationships with the people who walk through the door asking about a recent move or celebrating good news even commiserating over the hard stuff. Regulars bring her coffee. Everyone gets a hug.
“It turned into a hugging fest,” she says, beaming. “Best place ever.”
Advice from someone who knows
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but haven’t taken the plunge, Chris has something to say to you:
“Just come on board. Volunteering is a whole different animal than being an employee. We don’t have to be here, we want to be here. Customers say it’s such an amazing place because of the volunteers. This is our pay: knowing that people enjoy coming here.”
— Chris LaPrade
She puts it simply: At Abby’s, you come in as a customer and you leave as a part of something bigger.
Ready to be part of Abby’s?
Volunteers like Chris are the soul of what we do. If you have time, heart, and a willingness to show up then we’d love to meet you. Fill out an application!
About Chris LaPrade
Chris spent 17 years in the telecom industry managing the behind-the-scenes details that keep complex sales contracts running. After retiring in 2012, she knew she wanted to put her skills toward something that mattered — and found her way to Abby’s House. What began as data entry and thank-you notes turned into a full-fledged love affair with both the thrift floor and the office upstairs. These days, Chris is a familiar face to staff, volunteers, and customers alike… and if you’re lucky, you might just get a hug.
About Abby’s House
Abby’s House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, affordable housing, and advocacy services to women and children experiencing homelessness and housing instability. For 50 years, Abby’s House has remained committed to creating safe, supportive environments where women receive resources they need to build self-directed live. Grounded in principles of DEI, accessibility, antiracism, and belonging, our work is guided by a deep commitment to advancing social justice and strengthening our community.
In 2026, Abby’s House proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary honoring five decades of impact while looking ahead to the future of our mission. To mark this milestone, we invite you to join us at our 50th Anniversary Gala, where everyone that has been a part of the Abby’s House story will come together to celebrate what has been accomplished and look forward to what is to come for the women and children we serve. Your participation helps open the door to opportunity. We hope to see you there.
Learn more about our work, place an ad in our gala program book, or make a difference today.