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Harvesting Hope Gala Honoree Spotlight: Terri Kinlan, QTS
Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) is excited to host the second annual Harvesting Hope Gala at Nanina’s in the Park, 540 Mill Street in Belleville, on Wednesday, November 19 at 6 pm. This black tie optional event will bring our community together to celebrate and raise funds for the essential programs and services that NFSB provides for local residents.
We’re thrilled to recognize this year’s Harvesting Hope Gala honorees for their contributions to NFSB and the community we call home.
Terri Kinlan. As part of her role Facilities Operations role QTS Data Centers, Terri also manages the company’s volunteer program for the Northeast region and in 2025, expanded this initiative to meet NFSB growth in to their second location.
The Nutley Chamber of Commerce. Our local chamber is our link to the incredibly supportive Nutley business community, with current chamber president Joe Graziano leading efforts to cultivate deeper relationships.
Cheryl and Barry Kozyra. Cheryl serves on the NFSB Board of Trustees and organized her own Climb for a Cause fundraiser last year with her husband Barry, a long-time supporter of NFSB.
Mary and Brad Graves. Mary is a Past President of the NFSB, bringing stability and governance to the organization during a critical time of change. Mary and Brad continue to attend events and volunteer with NFSB.Today, we spotlight Harvesting Hope Gala honoree Terri Kinlan.
When Terri Kinlan joined QTS Data Centers in 2022, one request from employees came through loud and clear – more volunteering opportunities! This reflects one of the core values of QTS, which is a commitment to family, faith, and community volunteerism.“I was surprised because this is a first for me for my volunteer work,” Terri said. “I got the bug when I completed the Master Gardener program at Rutgers University in 2015. I volunteered 100 hours that first year. It’s very rewarding, and I’m grateful that NFSB sees how much the QTS team cares.”
After speaking with NFSB Director of Retail Operations Peg Conca and Food Pantry Director Joan Roake, Terri saw opportunities to expand the relationship while supporting timely initiatives at NFSB.
In addition to their annual CoreGiving Day and Thanksgiving volunteering, Terri and QTS added three volunteer days – Pantry Day and Garden Day in May and two days of volunteering in September to assist with the move into the new Thrift Shop location. Approximately 60 QTS employees have donated or will donate their time, energy, and giving spirit to NFSB in 2025.
Volunteering for the New Thrift Shop Location
Preparing for the grand opening of the second Thrift Shop location has been a labor of love for the NFSB family, with extra emphasis on labor. Once again, Terri and the QTS team stepped up to make sure the new store was ready for the Nutley Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on October 16.
“I said to Peg, ‘Make your list of whatever you need because I’ll be coming with muscle,’” Terri said. “We went up there for two days and moved furniture, tables, clothing, merchandise, just anything that had to move into the new building. There were 10 volunteers over 2 days in September. In October, we returned for CoreGiving Day. There were 17 QTS volunteers and in addition to assisting with the pantry, there was also moving additional items in to the new thrift store. We cleared out the attic of the original Thrift Shop and brought the holiday items to the main floor to create their Winter Wonderland.”
The second Thrift Shop location is off to wonderful start and will add much-needed funds to NFSB programs.
Thanksgiving Distribution
After volunteering to fill and deliver Thanksgiving baskets to the Nutley senior residents over the course of two days in 2022 & 2023, Terri suggested switching from baskets to tote bags, which are reusable and take up less space in both the NFSB Food Pantry and in the senior resident’s homes. Terri also loved Joan’s idea to take the Thanksgiving meal concept a step further, with collaborating with local restaurants to cook Thanksgiving meals for some of the senior residents that do not like to cook.
Terri and the QTS team will once again volunteer to prepare this year’s Thanksgiving meal ingredient tote bags for the senior residents in Nutley and deliver to Nutley Manor and Parkside Apartments.
Thank You, Terri and QTS, for Your Support
“QTS has been so supportive of the organization since I’ve been here, and their relationship with us has grown significantly under Terri’s leadership,” said Katherine Carmichael, Executive Director of NFSB. “They’re such a big part of our Thanksgiving initiative, and they were responsible for much of the heavy lifting, literally, as we moved into the new Thrift Shop. We’re incredible grateful for everything they do and look forward to honoring Terri and QTS for their commitment to NFSB.”NFSB would also like to thank QTS for its $10,000 Diamond Sponsorship of the Harvesting Hope Gala!
Join Us at the Harvesting Hope Gala!
2025 has been a challenging year for many in our community, including NFSB. Funds raised from the Harvesting Hope Gala will help us continue to support those in need at a time when our services have never been more in demand. Last year’s inaugural Harvesting Hope Gala raised $(insert final number) for NFSB, making it the most successful fundraiser of 2024.
Please help us make an even bigger difference this year! To purchase tickets to the Harvesting Hope Gala on November 19 at Nanina’s in the Park and find out about sponsorship opportunities, visit the Gala page on the NFSB website and follow our social media pages for updates.
