Vermont woman finds purpose serving community
Cathy Day balances jobs as librarian and sandwich shop worker while volunteering for those in need
BETHEL, Vt. (Aging Untold) — Cathy Day works two jobs and still finds time to serve her community.
Day works at Bethel Village Sandwich Shop alongside owner David Sambor. The two have worked together for years, including through the COVID-19 pandemic.
During COVID, the restaurant offered no indoor dining, only phone orders, and Day and Sambor brought meals to customers waiting outside.
“When I’d say what kind of car are you driving, that’s when I found out how many Subarus and how many black pickups,” Day said.
Community service
Day also serves as the town librarian, a position she has held for 30 years.
She started a soup kitchen at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, providing monthly meals for those in need.
Day also organizes a monthly meetup at the library where friends gather to create cards for children with osteosarcoma, or bone cancer.
“These children are in the hospital oftentimes for up to a year,” Day said.
Sambor said Day has earned a nickname in town.
“I jokingly call her Mama T, Mother Teresa,” Sambor said.
Day disagreed with the comparison.
“Yeah, no, not even close. Not even close,” she said.
Finding purpose
Day turned to community service after her children grew up and moved away, according to a friend.
“I think Cathy always liked doing things for people and her family. And now the town has become her extended family,” Madeleine Daniel said.
Day said she enjoys the work.
“I make people happy. I enjoy life,” she said.
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