A Community of Giving: The Clarks on What Makes MRC Unique

For Jennifer and John Clark, Mountain Resource Center is more than a place—it is a living network of neighbors supporting neighbors in ways that often go unseen. Their involvement began simply: Jennifer stopped by to drop off extra food while helping a friend move. A former nurse and longtime stay-at-home mom, she soon began volunteering in the food share, culinary classes, and advisory committee. Her husband John—an urgent care doctor and physician leader—quickly shared her sense of purpose. 

One of the things that struck them early on was how easily need can be overlooked in the foothills. As John put it, “Up here in the mountains it’s less obvious maybe than in a big city… just really didn’t have any idea how much neighbors and people in the community were struggling.” That realization made their connection to MRC even more meaningful. Jen, recalling her own childhood, understood the impact of community support: “I came from a large family, six kids, and, without the help from some community organizations back in Indiana, and the church food pantry, and just the help of neighbors, we would have gone hungry a lot.”

Through volunteering, Jennifer discovered a deeper sense of community—“wonderful, wonderful people who appreciate any little bit that they can get,” many of whom give back through volunteering or paying it forward despite their own hardships. Clients, she said, are often “so giving of themselves even when they maybe don’t have it, but they’re making sure everybody is taken care of.” John echoed this generosity, noting that many clients “help the next person, get connected with services here… and that’s truly extraordinary.” 

This spirit of mutual care is one of the reasons the Clarks choose to volunteer and donate. John shared that MRC’s mission “really aligns with our personal and family values,” and Jennifer added that she “just really appreciated everything that you guys do,” making their support an easy decision. Both appreciate MRC’s broad, values-driven approach—Jennifer noting that “no matter what kind of problem anyone is having, they can come here,” and John emphasizing that the organization is “very mission driven, very values driven… nothing is wasted.” 

Outside of MRC, the Clarks love the outdoors, camping, and the National Parks—a shared passion that drew them to the mountains more than a decade ago. Jennifer also sews reusable produce bags, which she donates for Food Share Market clients to use. 

Both describe MRC as feeling “like a family,” a place where staff and volunteers support one another and where Jennifer says she’s met people she never would have otherwise: “Without volunteering here, I wouldn’t have known that and I wouldn’t have met all these wonderful people.” 

For Jennifer and John, supporting Mountain Resource Center—through both service and philanthropy—is simply what community looks like: caring for one another, responding to the hidden needs around us, and ensuring no neighbor faces hardship alone.