Joy Trickett left legacy of volunteerism

Joy Trickett left this world to be with Our Father in Heaven on Sunday, July 29, 2018.

A former financial manager for the U.S. Department of Defense, Joy Trickett first began volunteering with the Good Shepherd Alliance (GSA) in 1997 when she served as the Board Treasurer. She was nominated and served as Board Chair from February 2002 until December 2009. During those years she established a motivated and influential working Board of Directors and built the GSA into the most recognized non-profit in Loudoun County. Under her guidance the GSA's comprehensive programs for homeless children and youth have twice been distinguished by President Bush's initiatives for a Better America: first by the Washington, D.C. based Points of Light Foundation, with the "Daily Points of Light Award" in August 2004 and later that year by America’s Promise, as the nation's first "Shelter of Promise.”

From humble beginnings during the winter of 1983, the GSA is a Christian non-profit that continues to grow as it serves the homeless (and near-homeless) in Loudoun County, Virginia. It now supports more than 3,000 men, women and children each year. The organization provides almost 10,000 bed nights. 77% of those it serves go on to achieve stable housing.

During her 7-year tenure as GSA Board Chair, Trickett created tremendous synergy between the GSA and various other emergency support organizations in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. She received the Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) 2005 Adult Volunteer of the Year award in Leesburg in April 2005 and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) 2005 Outstanding Humanitarian Award in Washington, D.C. in October 2005. The LVS stated that through her volunteer efforts, Trickett addressed the basic need for community emergency housing, food, clothing and transportation. The NCNW cited that Trickett provided unconditional love to people living in crisis and that she fulfilled the vision of NCNW founder, Mary McLeod Bethune.

During the 2006 Virginia General Assembly, House Joint Resolution No. 316 was proposed by former Delegate Tom Rust and passed commending Trickett. Individuals are nominated for this award based on efforts that are considered to be of local, state or national significance. The Resolution stated that, “Whereas Joy Trickett is dedicated to alleviating homelessness and poverty in Northern Virginia; now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, that the General Assembly hereby commend Joy Trickett for her valuable service and her devotion to the citizens of Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.”

On September 27, 2006, Trickett was honored by former Representative Frank Wolf after being mentioned in the Congressional Record for her work in addressing and alleviating homelessness and poverty in Northern Virginia. An excerpt reads, “For many hours each week, she volunteers to make a difference, one person at a time. On any given day, you might find Ms. Trickett in the Good Shepherd thrift store in Sterling, working with her staff, or writing a grant proposal with her administrative director in Leesburg, or interfacing with other sister organizations like the Clothes Closet in Herndon, LINK in Sterling, Loudoun Red Cross and Northern Virginia Family Services in Fairfax.”

Trickett was a key player in the founding of Mary’s House of Hope in Purcellville. Her desire was to provide shelter, counseling, education, love and support to homeless women experiencing a crisis pregnancy. She established a partnership with the Town of Purcellville, coordinated HUD Community Development Block Grants administered by the Loudoun County Department of Family Services and solicited extraordinary acts of kindness from the community. Mary’s House of Hope was dedicated on May 12, 2007. The facility was designed exclusively for pregnant women or women with newborns by architect Tom O’ Neil of Leesburg and general contractor Bob Bryner of Lovettsville. The House of Hope is the only facility of its kind in the area and proudly serves as a beacon light in Purcellville and western Loudoun County.

Again in 2007, Trickett was instrumental in an effort to procure a one and one-half acre property in Ashburn Village to renovate an old roofing company facility into the 7,000 square foot, two level GSA Center of Hope. The Center of Hope has been designated to help homeless and impoverished families and single people currently living in crisis. This facility is used to house the administrative and family service staff, volunteers, the thrift store Hope’s Treasures and the community outreach center. Trickett melded her program management skills with architect Clint Good, with construction expertise provided by Builder Captain Toll Brothers and oversight by HomeAid Northern Virginia. Over 80 contractors and vendors provided reduced rate services for their labor or donated their time and materials to this huge renovation project. The dedication ceremony took place on July 15, 2008. The Center of Hope has enabled GSA to initiate new thinking and training processes that equip needy people with the skills to develop self-sufficiency, resolve family life problems, work effectively with referral programs and successfully transition back into the mainstream workforce.

Trickett perceived volunteering as something she needed to do. “It is very scriptural,” she said, “we are supposed to help those who struggle to help themselves.” She asked that each of us grow closer to our Lord’s call, to give freely of our love and compassion to our brothers and sisters in need. She took great pleasure in witnessing young people volunteer and always asked to know their age and where they went to school or if she knew their parents. She mentored folks about acknowledging God’s time versus our time and how best to express God’s love and faithfulness to others. Her favorite scripture was “Jesus said, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in… Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” [Matthew 25:35-40]. This is truly a creed to live by, and Joy Trickett has certainly done that.

Some years ago a county reporter asked Trickett, "When do you plan to retire from volunteering?" Trickett replied, "People should work until the end. I have a few years to go yet."

Trickett was also Leadership Chair at Dranesville Church of the Brethren, past President of the Great Falls Seniors Center, and was an active representative of her church with Great Falls Area Ministries. Joy Trickett’s life encompassed many other achievements as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even a book would not be enough to capture all of her wonderful works and accomplishments. Trickett was a lifelong resident of Herndon who opened hearts to the Word of God and changed people’s lives each and every day. God bless her and we will not soon forget her.