For nearly three decades, Gail Reed has been an anchor that holds the community together by supporting those most in need.

Reed has spent 28 years working as the supervisor at the Barry County Neighborhood Center, and she will hang her hat on the door on Dec. 2.

“I started on March 7, 1994,” she said. “I started as the family resource specialist, and I did that for a year. When my supervisor retired, I applied for this position and I got it. I’ve been doing this ever since.”

Reed said she is most excited to turn off her alarm clock.

“Right now, I don’t have plans for my retirement,” she said. “I told everyone I would be home before the snow falls this year.

“I enjoy reading, jigsaw puzzles and watching movies, especially Hallmark Christmas movies. I am excited to spend more time with family.”

Reed has one son, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who she will spend more time with.

“You miss so much when you aren’t with them all the time,” she said. “They all live pretty locals they are close enough to get to see them a lot.”

Reed said she first discovered OACAC about 9 months before she started working there.

“I was running a summer youth program for 14-21 year olds,” she said. “Over the years, I have seen so many things come through this place. I wouldn’t say I have created many programs personally, but I like to think that I helped make some of those programs successful.”

Reed was on the first committee that developed the Tri-County Health Care Consortium, which has since become Access Family Care.

“I have always been impressed with what Access has become over the years,” she said. “As a group, we saw what was needed and they did it.

“We also started the School Fair which has also grown from what it started out as. The first year, I went to local businesses and raised about $200. I bought as much as I could and handed it out to parents. Now, we serve about 200 children every year, and they get everything they need and more.”

Another program Reed has seen over the years is the Senior Resource Fair.

“We did that for a few years, and I loved it,” she said. “There was so much information for our senior community. It was a great project.

“We also do a Reall (Reality, Enrichment, Life Lessons) life simulator.”

Reall is for children in grades 7-12.

“It is interesting, and the kids get a lot out of it,” Reed said. “There are two 20-minute sessions. In the first session, the children are given identities of people who didn’t graduate. They have jobs and a certain amount of money and they have to live. The second session, the identities are given a degree with better jobs and more money, and they see the difference in options.

“It really opens them up to talk about things and to me it is a great program for the kids.”

Another program is VOICE.

“It is a vocational program for grades kindergarten to sixth grade,” she said. “We bring in different people with different careers just to get them thinking about what they would like to do when they grow up. I love that it started them thinking about career paths so young. We have dentists, eye doctors, DNR and more.”

Reed said it is hard for her to pinpoint a favorite program.

“Whatever is happening at the time is my favorite,” she said. “My whole heart is in it. The things that we do regularly are the things that make a big difference.”

Reed said the programs like the clothing room, diaper drives, having hygiene items and coat drives are essential.

“These are things that we give to families that help them,” she said. “I love that part of it.”

Reed said they also participate in Share Your Christmas.

“Unfortunately, we also see natural disasters like flooding,” she said. “The way the community comes together to help those who have suffered is amazing. With major flooding we became the point that people would come to and help get resources to those who need them.

“Whether it is Christmas, school supplies or a natural disaster, it always amazes me how the community responds.”

Reed said it is the little things that make a difference in people’s lives.

“That is what makes what I have done all these years worthwhile,” she said. “I think for the person who follows me, they need to integrate into the community. Get involved and remember where we all came from. Always be kind, and treat everyone the same. You will have to be a champion for the low-income population and do everything you can to help someone.”

Reed said to always find things that bring out smiles.

“Since people have found out I am retiring, they have come to me to thank me and talk to me,” she said. “I will miss that. I enjoy talking to people.”

Reed said people have told her how she has made a difference.

“Some were things I didn’t even realize was such an important thing to do,” she said. “One person thanked me for helping her with filling out paperwork. I do that a lot, so I didn’t think much of it, but this person said they have a learning disability and couldn’t have done it themselves. I didn’t know they had a disability — all these years, I didn’t realize the difference I made.”

Reed said she knew it would be difficult to leave, but she also knew it was time to leave.

The Barry County Neighborhood Center will have a reception for Reed on Dec. 1, from 2-4 p.m, it is open to the public and all are welcome to come say goodbye.