Volunteer Profile: Bayard X

Spring is just around the corner, and Pam, Seth, David, Vivienne and Jeremy can't
wait until the sweaters are stored for the season and the tank tops come out (not in
the kitchen, though!). With the Volunteer Appreciation party nearing, we take our hats off in congratulations and thanks to all of our volunteers. We certainly take our hats off for Bayard X, our volunteer profile this month, because our hats never compare to the creativity of his!

Bayard first heard of God's Love We Deliver a year or two after the organization was formed from a friend who was a volunteer. At that time, Bayard felt that he needed to do something to help those suffering from the AIDS crisis of the mid 1980's, so he quickly became a regular volunteer in the GLWD kitchen, which was then located on Amsterdam Avenue and 103rd Street.

He could not have imagined that over fifteen years later, he would still be a regular in the kitchen. When asked what the difference is between the new kitchen and the old, Bayard says, "The old kitchen was definitely smaller, but not much else has changed. We still chop the same good food."

It's always easy to identify Bayard in the kitchen. He's the one chopping in the fabulously quirky and eclectic hat. Never satisfied with the somewhat generic hairnets provided, he always livens up the spirit in the kitchen with the introduction of each new chapeau. In fact, Bayard is the inspiration for the annual kitchen-hat contest, which of course has spawned a whole new generation of volunteers with fun hats!

Outside of GLWD, Bayard tries to concentrate on his literary career. He says, "I am a well published, completely unknown writer." He has even received three fan letters in his illustrious career! He is also the editor of an award-winning literary journal entitled "Happy." Amazingly, Bayard finds time to volunteer with literacy programs in the NYC public school system as well.

If you haven't had the chance to meet Bayard, please stop by the kitchen on Thursdays in the early afternoon. After 15 years as a GLWD volunteer, he has enough stories to fill his next book! Our clients thank you, Bayard, for your consistency and dedication, but most of all, your humor. Your hats make us smile, and your generous spirit inspires us all!