Former English teacher Bonnie Knuti is used to reading about the trials and triumphs of the human spirit from literature. But she has never seen anything like the hope of the people she volunteers to serve lunch to each week at Boulder's Carriage House Community Table, a non-profit focused on meeting the needs of the homeless.

For over a year, Knuti has spent three hours every Friday afternoon serving food, talking to people, and cleaning up afterward. She says, "It is hard work, but I am continually amazed by the people I meet and the stories I hear. People always keep a positive outlook on their lives."

Tara Flanagan of the Carriage House says, "Bonnie brings a committed and loving energy to her volunteer work. She has kept an insightful journal that chronicles her time here and demonstrates the thoughtfulness she brings to her work."

When asked for a story from that journal, Knuti tells of a woman she met who was diagnosed with cancer, had undergone chemotherapy, and was fighting cancer while living on the streets. Yet she had a smile on her face and great stories to tell.

"The Carriage House not only provides an atmosphere of caring, but immediate, practical help for those who need it to survive. I am humbled to be a part of that," says Knuti.

Knuti, who calls retirement, "totally underrated," also volunteers as an ESL teacher and as a counselor at a camp for children with cancer.

For information about volunteering with Carriage House or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.