Frank Quintero
Facilities Coordinator
10 Years at Meadows
I serve the people of Texas by creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere at our headquarters office. It’s important to me that everyone who spends time at the Foundation feels welcome and taken care of so they can focus on why they are here.
Most Impactful Experience at the Foundation
We have an employee committee that finds small nonprofits we haven’t worked with before and recommend them to our Board of Directors for a $5,000 grant. For staff such as me who do not work in our grantmaking area, it helps us understand how that process works. It also becomes very personal because you put a lot of time into finding a great nonprofit and you connect with what they do and the people you meet.
The committee I served on recommended Streetside Showers, which provides mobile hot showers and hygiene for guests in need. They really touched my heart. I love what they do so much that I got my sons’ baseball teammates and their families to volunteer and donate.
What the Pandemic Changed
Hobbies
I got into woodworking. I replaced my fence and instead of throwing out the old wood, I made custom Texas cut-outs and flags.
Stockpiled
Toilet paper…big, commercial rolls of toilet paper. We still have a lot. My house isn’t a great big store, so it’s going to take a while to use it all up.
Motivation & View of Our Work
I am part of the Foundation’s Service Center team who maintains the Wilson Historic District. We’re used to stopping what we’re doing when there’s an emergency – air conditioners on the fritz, plumbing leaks, gates not opening or closing – all sorts of stuff.
The Foundation did the same for staff during the pandemic.
Normally, I can’t do my work if I’m not on campus. While the Service Center was home, we repurposed ourselves. We took professional development classes and worked on the Foundation’s archives. My favorite part was serving our community through Meals on Wheels, Be My Eyes, food drives, putting together hygiene kits, and filling backpacks with school supplies for students.
The Foundation went above and beyond to keep us safe and healthy and productive. It made me vigilant in keeping my family safe so I could continue to work.
What I’m Looking Forward To
I’m excited about the potential of a farm in the Wilson Historic District. I enjoy gardening in my personal time. I know how healing it can be. It taught me to slow down and be patient. I got my sons into it, too. It’s incredible to watch what you create come to life. The farm will bring new energy to the District and our tenants.