After 16 years with Cathedral Kitchen (CK), Community Relations Director Alex Wills is retiring. Her commitment to CK, our guests, and our volunteers cannot be overstated. While we will miss her deeply, we are excited for her to enjoy this next chapter, spending more time with her family.
Alex first learned about CK through her children’s school community service. As a service-minded person and a member of the Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club, Alex was committed to Cathedral Kitchen’s mission before she set foot in the building as an employee.
As she took on increasing responsibilities as a volunteer, Alex stepped into a role managing volunteers—first part-time, then full-time—eventually coordinating the thousands of individuals who give their time to CK each year. Along the way, she built genuine, lasting relationships with many of them.
“I love the volunteers, I have made real friendships here. It’s more than just camaraderie, it’s like an extended family.”
Alex will still be involved at CK post-retirement and hopes to keep up many of the relationships she built here. She takes pride in keeping up with the lives of volunteers and guests alike—their milestones, celebrations, and even their losses. One loss, in particular, profoundly impacted the CK community during her time here.
“When we lost Chef Jonathon, all our hearts broke,” she said. “He had a larger-than-life personality and made such a big impact. We carry his legacy with us in the Kitchen and in our lives.”
Beyond the relationships she built, Alex’s favorite part of her job was the variety. “Each day is something different. You never know what a day will bring when you walk in the door,” she said. She recalled one especially heartwarming day when a guest proposed to his partner right in the dining room—and she said yes!
Since she joined CK in 2010, the team has witnessed tremendous growth. Our social services and personal care closet, in particular, have grown to help our guests in ways that food alone couldn’t.
Alex was also instrumental in building a network of partner agencies and companies. She recognized that the partners’ goals are the same: to help people. And because no one organization can do everything on its own, we all show up for one another and work together to make the greatest impact possible.
“It takes a village, but I like to think that my work made a difference and the relationships I fostered benefitted CK and our guests.”
Alex would be the last person to boast, but we can say definitively that her dedication and humility perfectly reflect the spirit of CK and the community we strive to build.
During her retirement, Alex looks forward to spending more time with her husband, her three children, and her eight grandchildren. She’s also excited to finally learn Mahjong, which she has wanted to do for years.
“I’m a hugger now! It’s not that I wasn’t nice before, but since working here with all the kind and genuine people, I see how those small gestures matter. So now, I’m a hugger.”
