Small Acts, Big Difference: How the Pickels Serve with Love
In 2022, Tiffany Pickel first heard about the DeSoto County Dream Center’s Education Program through her church, Compel. “I signed up for it because my education was in teaching, but I had never formally used my degree at the time,” Tiffany shared. But when scheduling conflicts arose, she was introduced to Adopt-a-Block—a program that better fit her family’s schedule.
From there, Tiffany, along with her husband Steven and their daughters Everly and Anderson, began serving monthly in the Dream Center warehouse, faithfully organizing and stocking supplies in the Adopt-a-Block trailer for the monthly outreaches. The Pickel family ensures every block party team is prepared and able to serve and connect with families in the community.
“It’s nothing special. We don’t do anything big, but we do love it,” Tiffany said humbly. Yet their commitment has created a more organized and efficient system for loading and unloading supplies—making a real impact on the success of each outreach.
The Pickels have even had the joy of seeing the results of their work firsthand. “We’ve gone to a few Adopt-a-Block gatherings and seen the kids drawing on the paper we stocked and playing with the toys we packed. It feels good to know and see that the items we pack are being used. It’s been a great teaching opportunity for the kids, too, as they’ve grown through this regular commitment to serving.”
For Tiffany, volunteering is about much more than organizing shelves. “It’s a great reminder that it’s not just a hamburger—it’s about teams showing up each month and building relationships. Coming in and out of the Dream Center, I don’t always get to talk to people, but I overhear conversations and really feel like God is doing so much here. I would scrub toilets if they asked me, because we just love it!”
It’s faithful volunteers like the Pickel family who make the Dream Center’s mission possible. By committing to give their time each month, they’re helping instill hope and making a lasting difference in people’s lives.
Want to grow together as a family while serving others? Learn how you can join the Dream Team and make an impact by visiting our website.