Client Services Coordinator
Sarina Bissell used to be unsure of the right career for herself. After graduating from college, she worked one year in orthopedics before determining that wasn’t the path for her. Feeling confused about her future and wanting to find a career helping others, she discovered her interest in social work and started diving into related careers. This led her to join PROP in September 2022.
As Client Services Coordinator, Sarina dips her toes into every corner of PROP. She manages the reception desk and phone calls, serves as a contact point for both food services and case management, and oversees the office volunteers. She handles data entry and paperwork, alongside coordinating PROP’s home delivery program. Lastly, she’s bilingual, so all Spanish calls — about 30% of PROP’s total calls — go through her. She also schedules appointments for Spanish-speaking clients if there are no Spanish-speaking volunteers onsite. With her work extending into all the different areas of PROP, Sarina has learned to be a strong communicator. “People call in a crisis, and it’s about being that compassionate person on the other end of the phone and being able to actively listen to what they say, then figure out how we can support them,” Sarina said.
Sarina’s work does not go unnoticed. She has been at the forefront of connecting with clients and supporting them through their growth over the past couple years. “Seeing where they are now versus where they were when they started — seeing how PROP has helped them — is pretty amazing,” Sarina shared.
Of this, the most meaningful experience to her is getting to sit down with Spanish-speaking clients when they come to PROP for the first time. “Many of them have only been in the country for days to weeks to months, and a lot of them have nothing,” Sarina said. “Being that person to listen to their stories and figure out how we can support them is important.”
Through her job, Sarina understands how interconnected PROP’s team is, highlighting how collaborative the workplace is. “We’re always welcoming of new ideas and figuring out how we can improve things as a team,” Sarina explained. “We all have to collaboratively work together to accomplish our separate tasks. Your written job description isn’t entirely what you do.”
Additionally, her collaborative efforts extend beyond her coworkers — she works incredibly closely with PROP’s volunteers. “There’s no way I could do my job without them,” Sarina expressed. She emphasized the gratitude she has for all the different people she works with every day.
Sarina’s love for PROP extends into the future as well. She hopes that PROP can grow and support even more people as the need for food intensifies. This means growing to support all clients: “As we continue to increase in Spanish capacity, I always would love to see more Spanish support in the office,” Sarina shared. “The organization continues to grow, and there’s no limit to what the future could hold.”