Virginia Ficco’s journey to becoming a cherished Catholic Charities volunteer began in an unexpected way. In 2014, she survived a devastating car accident outside Cortez, Colorado. Airlifted to University Hospital in Denver, she spent 32 days in intensive care. Her doctor advised her and her husband to relocate from their home in Ouray to be closer to the hospital. A year into her recovery, Virginia saw a call for volunteers in the St. Pius Catholic Church parish bulletin for the Little Flower Assistance Center. Despite her physical challenges, she reasoned that if she was well enough to play bridge during the week, she could certainly volunteer once a week at Little Flower. She began by organizing food boxes for individuals and families in Aurora but soon found the physical demands too strenuous. Undeterred, Virginia sought other ways to contribute. As a former teacher, principal and district superintendent, she hoped her experience could be put to good use. Donna Potter, longtime director of Little Flower, worked with Virginia to find a more suitable volunteer placement and together they landed on client intakes. Over time, she became an expert in the intake process, even streamlining the system to improve efficiency. A lifelong learner and teacher, Virginia embraced new technology, mastering a software program for tracking volunteer data and training others to use it. Among the many stories she hears from clients, what stands out most to Virginia is their determination. Having experienced trauma herself, she deeply admires the resilience of those she meets. Ten years later, Virginia remains a vital part of the Little Flower team, offering her time, experience and heart to the center. She continues to guide new volunteers and ensure that the systems she helped develop run smoothly.
During Volunteer Appreciation Month, we honor Virginia and countless others like her across Catholic Charities — individuals whose dedication and perseverance make a profound difference in the lives of others. Learn more about volunteering at ccdenver.org/volunteer Catholic Charities, guided by our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need, feeds, houses, educates, counsels and provides emergency assistance and critical services to tens of thousands of neighbors across Colorado’s Front Range and Western Slope each year.