Andy D.

Andy D., one of our brilliant and dedicated volunteers, has an unmatched adoration for the city of Columbus.

Though he was born in West Milton, Ohio, Andy has been settled here since 1991, with the exception of three years spent elsewhere. He currently works with his wife, Bethia Woolf, as the co-founder of Columbus Food Adventures, a food tour group entirely dedicated to showcasing the best restaurants and food-based experiences Columbus has to offer.

Even with the many necessary daily interactions brought on by his day job, Andy still manages to find time and energy for At Home by High, specializing in member transportation, one of the most important and requested services we offer.

Andy first found AHBH through Katie Beaumont, our very own Executive Director. Though he said he wishes he had found the organization all on his own, he admitted that Katie came to him with the idea to become a volunteer. Jokingly, he told us that he answered with a simple “Why not? Seems like a nice thing to do.”

Despite going in with next to no expectations, he said his time with AHBH has brought him a community that is “far more rewarding” than he ever could have imagined. In particular, he brought up a specific experience he had with a member; after they had gone through an extreme health setback, Andy had the opportunity to watch and assist as they persisted day in and day out, working their way back to their full capacity. This both helped him understand why our services can be so necessary and inspired him to do more with our organization.

Andy’s company, Columbus Food Adventures, has also generously partnered with At Home By High. On top of his personal volunteer service, he facilitated a member event at the CAM International Market, where many of our members were able to try hot pot for the very first time.

This, along with many other moments spent with members, makes his busy days worth it. Though he would like to be able to attend more of our weekly events, he said that his quick interactions with our members are more than enough, adding that every scandalous joke or comment he hears only makes him that much more eager to be so “witty and vibrant” at their age.

Though Andy’s volunteering is more behind-the-scenes than others’, it certainly does not go unnoticed. Every single Tuesday, Andy drives three of our members to the Northside Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library for our coffee meet-up. Without Andy’s service, these three would not only miss out on a cutthroat game of bingo, but they would also have to sacrifice the valuable relationships they have formed through our organization.

In the end, Andy said it best: “help that may seem fairly trivial to the young and able bodied among us can be essential for others.” There are so many simple activities, such as meeting up with your friends for coffee, that are not options for many aging adults who lack funds and/or transportation. Our goal At Home by High is to open up and share the beauty of community growth and connection with all of our neighbors, which simply would not be able to happen without dedicated volunteers like Andy.