Autumn Nina Gaddy believes deeply in the power of care, connection, and creating spaces where people feel supported. Through her volunteer work at Kenton Women’s Village, she has helped cultivate a pollinator garden that offers beauty, calm, and a sense of community for residents and neighbors alike.
In this Voices of Hope conversation, Autumn shares how her background in social services, her Southern Oregon roots, and her own experiences receiving support have shaped the way she gives back today.
Autumn Gaddy brings both deep personal experience and decades of social service work to her volunteer role at Kenton Women’s Village. Originally from a family farm in Southern Oregon, she spent more than 20 years working in shelters and supportive care roles throughout Portland, helping people navigate housing instability and hardship.
After becoming a homeowner through the Proud Ground program, Autumn began cultivating a native plant and pollinator garden in her Kenton neighborhood. Today, she brings that same care and connection to the KWV garden, helping create a peaceful, welcoming space for residents, pollinators and community alike.
Name: Autumn Nina Gaddy
Role with Catholic Charities (staff, board, volunteer, partner, client): I started volunteering with Catholic Charities in the Spring of 2024.
Year you first connected with Catholic Charities: I reached out to Victoria (Director of Homeless and Transitional Services) in the spring of 2024 with the hope of creating a pollinator garden at the Kenton Women’s Village.
How did you hear about Catholic Charities of Oregon, and what prompted you to get involved? I heard about Catholic Charities in 2017 when the Kenton Women’s Village first got started.
It was a very welcome addition to the Kenton neighborhood. I appreciated the dignity of each person having a “pod” to live in. It’s important for people to have privacy and personal space.
What does being part of Catholic Charities/Catholic Social Teaching mean to you personally? It’s important for me to give back to the community. I’ve received a lot of help over the years from different organizations. It feels good to be involved with an organization that is person-centered and actually follows through with providing lasting support to people.
What’s one story or moment from your time with Catholic Charities that you’ll never forget? I started working on the pollinator garden in the spring of 2024. I was hard at work removing sod from the garden site when a crew leader named Erik asked if I would like some help!
What activities, situations or people most inspire you? What activities, situations, or people most inspire you? I’m inspired by people showing up for one another in meaningful ways. Acts of care, support, and genuine connection — especially during difficult moments — really stay with me. Volunteering at Kenton Women’s Village, I’ve been especially inspired by watching Allison (Pantano-Rumsey), the program coordinator, support residents with such consistency, compassion, and respect. Seeing that kind of care in action reminds me how powerful human connection can be.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get involved—whether through volunteering, donating or seeking support? Give it a try and see what happens!
What’s your favorite book, movie, TV show, podcast or social media account—and why? (Pick one!) I love Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and I love watching all the versions that have been made into movies.
What’s on your personal “bucket list”—something you still hope to do, learn or experience? Take a cross-country road trip with my daughter Grace!