Pellissippi State student takes giving to heart

By Kathy Byrd

She might stand less than 5 feet 4 inches tall, but no one can question the size of Christy Powers' heart.

Despite a full schedule of classes and an on-campus job, the freshman at Pellissippi State's Blount County Center always finds time to help out those less fortunate than herself.

She volunteers on a regular basis at Knox Area Rescue Ministries and the Salvation Army, doing everything from serving food to cleaning bathrooms. During December, she even mounted her own collection campaign after Salvation Army bell ringers were banned from Target stores.

Powers' desire to help others is not the byproduct of personal wealth or too much free time. She is well acquainted with the financial hardships of being from a blue-collar background, and her desire to do well enough in the classroom to eventually be admitted to law school keeps her plenty busy.

The 21-year-old simply possesses an irrepressible spirit of giving to others. The elderly, the homeless, the poor, the hungry-anyone who finds himself or herself overwhelmed by life's circumstances-have always been part of Powers' consciousness. An incident in the fall of 2003 influenced her to turn her concern into action.

As part of her duties driving a shuttle cab for the University of Tennessee football games, Powers made a loop of downtown Knoxville, picking up fans on their way to Neyland Stadium. On her route, she spotted an elderly man limping his way along the streets. Despite the frigid weather, he wore a jacket full of holes that she knew could not protect him from the cold temperatures.

"Every time I saw him, I felt I should help him," Powers said.

Having been warned that money given to the homeless was often wasted on alcohol, Powers told herself to ignore the man.

But ultimately she couldn't.

"I stopped and tried to give him $20," she recalled. "He got tears in his eyes and said he couldn't take my money."

The man did board her shuttle to get out of the cold, however, and the two struck up a conversation. Eventually, he did accept her gift, and she was able to rent a hotel room for him for the night.

"I never saw that man again," she said.

The experience convinced her that she needed to do something in an organized, consistent way to help those like him.

Her first step was to call Knox Area Rescue Ministries and register as a volunteer. In addition to serving food at Thanksgiving and Christmas, Powers provides assistance in other ways. She plans and attends birthday parties for those staying at the shelter, and, although it's not her favorite activity, she sometimes helps clean.

Explaining that the agency has only a few paid staff members, she points out that it operates mostly on the strength of volunteer efforts, and even for the most thankless tasks.

"I prefer to do serving," she said with a laugh. "I don't really like cleaning bathrooms, but I will, because it has to be done."

No matter what task she performs, Powers feels good about her contribution.

"It's not really a proud feeling that you get," she said. "It's more of a humbling experience. You walk out of there feeling so light. It's indescribable."

Powers' desire to serve others also carries over into her life as a student and into her choice of profession.

As the first person in her family to attend college, Powers did not expect much in the way of financial help. In choosing Pellissippi State largely on the basis of convenience and affordability, she has found a welcoming atmosphere and interesting classes.

"I love everybody here," she said. "Everyone is so warm and friendly that I would like to just stay here for my whole educational career."

Her involvement in the Council of Student Advocates as the representative from the Blount County campus suits her giving nature, and she works on campus to help pay for her education.

Powers' classes have even coincided with her interest in helping others. A project for her sociology class required students to perform service work, and in English composition, she researched and wrote on her other area of interest, the unfairness she believes has become part of the country's judicial system.

A Legal Studies transfer student at Pellissippi State, she hopes to complete her four-year degree at UT and then enroll in law school. Ultimately, she would like to become an attorney who defends those she feels are often overlooked by the legal system.

Powers said she wants to be the kind of attorney who would provide a good defense for those unable to pay large sums of money.

"Justice too often depends on how much money you've got," she said. "I want to be part of bringing the system back to what it is supposed to be."

The memory of a favor a professional once did for her when she needed help serves as the inspiration for her future plans.

Powers recalls the time she needed care for an injured dog but did not have enough money for the treatment.

"The vet told me to go ahead and bring her in, and she would take care of her," she said.

"No matter what I do in life, I want to be that kind of person."

She already is.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

For past issues, visit the Inside Pellissippi Archive.