U.S. General Services Administration
Habersat wins KC PERD award for community service
Jaime Habersat, a FAS transportation operations specialist, seems to always be doing some form of community service. This year her efforts earned her the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board’s Public Employee Recognition Day community service award.
Habersat spent a lot of her free time during the pandemic volunteering with Baby Grace — a faith-based organization that provides basic necessities for children in need. With her help, the Raymore Christian Church chapter of Baby Grace distributed 22,604 diapers to families in need. She also helped to plan and organize three open houses to distribute clothing, toys, blankets, bottles, bibs and other necessities.
Habersat’s best friend, Brandy, had previously worked to open the Raymore Christain Church chapter of Baby Grace five years ago, and Habersat slowly began helping her run the operation three years ago.
“When the pandemic hit, all of our help was quarantined, as they were mostly from a local retirement community,” Habersat said. “It was really up to us to keep the program running.”
Using her knowledge of business and spreadsheets, Habersat played a major role in making the donations easier to manage. She also spent many hours ordering, sorting, compiling and figuring out how to provide for the community in a safe way.
“My work with Baby Grace, the way the families appreciate what we are doing, even though it is so little, it is much needed,” she said. “The thanks, the God bless you, the smiles, the tears, from the families, that is what has kept me volunteering. It may have started to support my friend and her desire to do more, but it really has turned into a desire and a blessing for me as well.”
Habersat is currently deployed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, helping with unaccompanied children efforts along the southern border of the U.S. In addition, she is part of Team Rubicon, where she has deployed to 14 disasters. She volunteers with Operation BBQ relief, where she helps in the warehouse and prepares trailers for deployment to devastated areas. She also deployed with FEMA to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
"Community service is something that fills my cup up,” she said. “Team Rubicon, Operation BBQ Relief, Baby Grace, all of them bless me beyond measure. They give me the ability to give back. I know someday I will run into someone who says ‘this great group helped me out on my worst day. If it wasn't for them, I don't know what I would do,’ and I will be able to smile knowing that I got to do that.”
While Habersat will not be there to accept the award in person, she will be recognized during the FEB’s Public Employees Recognition Day Award Ceremony at the Bartle Hall convention center May 5. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. CDT and is available to watch via live stream (Meeting ID: 161-540-1880, Passcode: B=Jn6=@=Hx).
“I am honored to receive this award,” Habersat said. “I don't do community service to get awards, but it is always nice to have our efforts be noticed.”
