This ‘bundle of energy’ inspires others to step up during the coronavirus pandemic
Carolyn Critz worked as a nurse for 21 years, so for her, helping people is nothing new.
Known as a “bundle of energy,” Critz’s name always comes up when opportunities to help arise, her fellow volunteers say. Now retired, she has donated her free time to helping communities affected by the novel coronavirus. Her passion to help during the crisis has inspired others to step up as well.
On Thursday afternoons, Critz helps the University Christian Church distribute face mask kits to the community. She’s been a church member since 2007. So far, Critz said, the church has given out more than 1,000 kits. Each one contains enough fabric and elastic bands to make 10 masks. Victory Awning of Fort Worth provided material for the kits.
Twice a week Critz makes at least 20 sandwiches for the Presbyterian Night Shelter, which needs at least 300 lunches a day. The night shelter’s lunch program was in a free-fall when the pandemic hit because volunteers were not allowed to visit. Once health officials determined it was safe for people to make sandwiches at home for the shelter, Critz knew she had to help.
When the pandemic forced children to finish their classes at home, the Fort Worth school district distributed hot spots to families without internet access, and Critz stepped in to help deliver them to students at the International Newcomer Academy. It wasn’t just the hot spots though: Critz also took them food and books.
And Critz has also been collecting new or gently used sheets and towels for the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition.
Critz’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Fellow church member Anne Sanders nominated Critz for recognition in the Star-Telegram’s Hometown Heroes series because of her continued volunteer efforts and the leadership she has shown during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I admire her,” Sanders said. “Her devotion to this is infectious.”
Hometown Heroes is sponsored by Lockheed Martin, which is providing $1,000 each to the 28 people selected by the Star-Telegram to be featured in the weekly series.
Sanders has volunteered on some of the same projects as Critz, and describes her as a “bundle of energy dedicated to doing good.”
Critz sees a need and she jumps in to make it better, Sanders said.
“Her name kept coming up on contact this person or this person, she’s going to be receiving donations,” Sanders said. “Her name was woven through the outreach projects.”
Critz doesn’t dedicate her time in a self-seeking way or to be noticed by others, Sanders said. She does it because she has a servant’s heart.
While Critz doesn’t see herself as a leader, fellow church member Sandra Soria says Critz gets people to act with her ideas and suggestions.
“When you see Carolyn working, it’s hard for you just to sit by and not do anything,” Soria said.
Critz has always been a person who takes action when she thinks something isn’t right.
Years ago, when the church couldn’t recycle, Soria said Critz would collect the recyclables every Sunday afternoon
and personally deliver them to be recycled because she couldn’t stand the idea of them going to a landfill.
Soria said Critz has been a person who knows where there is a need and makes sure something is done about it.
Critz points to her faith as her motivation to help people and cited the phrase “There but for the grace of God, go I,” which means to feel sympathy for those in a bad situation.
“It kind of boils down to it could be me and I could be that person,” she said.
Critz always wanted to volunteer. When she was working full time, Critz wanted to be a part of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that helps families build and improve homes. But she couldn’t find the time to make it work, so when she stopped working, that was the first place she volunteered, an experience she enjoyed “tremendously,” she said.
Critz said she has been struck by the inequity that COVID-19 has revealed in Fort Worth.
“I haven’t had to worry about housing,” she said. “I haven’t had to worry about food. I haven’t had to worry about electricity or water or gasoline or a paycheck. I know that there’s lots of people that that’s happening to, and we only knew about a few of them that we could help.”
To nominate a Hometown Hero
To nominate someone to be featured in the Hometown Heroes series, go to star-telegram.com/nominate.
This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
