Faithful ACH volunteer for 7 years running. Handyman. Builder. Fixer of what has been broken.

Retirement is often seen as a time to kick back and relax, to take up new hobbies, to have a well-earned period of leisure after a long career. For Jeff Wilkerson, retirement has meant a transition to nearly full-time volunteer work in the maintenance department at Amarillo Children’s Home.

Originally from Clovis, New Mexico, Jeff served at the police departments in Portales and Amarillo and at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in Santa Fe before retiring to Amarillo. Once back in the Texas Panhandle, Jeff began volunteering in 2013 at Snack Pak 4 Kids. He came to ACH in Feb 2015, doubling our maintenance staff.

Right away, Jeff and Maintenance Manager Brad Bonzer hit it off, and the lively duo is often seen driving around campus on a golf cart as they head from project to project. The care and keeping of 7 cottages, 19 vehicles, several other campus buildings and the campus grounds keep the two of them hopping.

“The way I look at it,” Jeff shared, “we’re directly involved with the health, safety and welfare of the kids… the safety and wellbeing of the kids is what I care about.”

Jeff expressed that helping here comes from a place of love – he really enjoys handyman work, and serving ACH kids in this way gives him joy and enhances the quality of his life. He most enjoys summer when the teen boys help with a few projects. If the kids have an interest, Jeff likes to engage them and foster their natural inquisitiveness.

Jeff is a fixer of broken things, a mender, a restorer. We are so grateful he has chosen to join our family.

“I enjoy being active and productive. The nice thing about ACH is you can see the results of your productivity. It’s rewarding to repair something and give it new life…”    – Jeff Wilkerson