Karen Voepel one of the co-founders of STS, resides on the eastern plains of Colorado. She frequently travels to various rural towns in Colorado, providing shoes to those in need. Karen greatly admires the numerous volunteers who generously dedicate their time to STS. The greatest reward for her is receiving a smile or hug from those she helps. Her husband, Bill Broyles, is her biggest supporter. Karen has a son and a step-daughter, both of whom have two children. She holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Alabama and previously worked as a court reporter for most of her professional career. Nowadays, she has shifted her skills towards professional outdoor photography.

Tonya Voepel is a co-founder of Share the Spirit Foundation. She and her husband, Dave, reside in Arizona after living 56 years in Illinois and she still considers that her home. STS gained roots in Illinois over 20 years ago and maintains a firm volunteer base and active board there. Their daughter, Ellie, has participated in STS events since the age of five and now resides in Kansas. Tonya is a graphic designer and helped to initiate the Shoe Clozets, Looking Glass Project and Next Step Program into Share the Spirit Foundation as well as marketing aspects. Tonya spends time traveling between Arizona, Illinois, Kansas and Colorado visiting family and enjoying the STS adventures.

Heidi Darow has been a volunteer and part of Share the Spirit for over 13 years. She was a previous Share the Spirit Board Member and Treasurer. She lives with her husband Mark in Sherman, Illinois. After recently retiring as Purchasing Manager at Teachers Retirement System of Illinois, she is looking forward to having additional time to devote to Share the Spirit.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Lori Harrison and her family have been a part of Share the Spirit Foundation for many years, serving as volunteers at our shoe events, as well as supporting us in our fundraising efforts. She recently served as an invaluable committee member for our Friday Uncorked fundraiser and other events this past year. She is a semi-retired CPA and has served on previous boards and committees in that capacity. Lori has been married to her husband John for 27 years and has four children, Ali (Brett), Melanie (Jack), Blake and Brock and four grandchildren, Sadie (10), Dylan (9), Mia (9) and Ari (8) and her beloved dog, Bullet (16). Lori enjoys traveling, babysitting her grandchildren and spending time with family and friends.

Emily Palmer has always had a strong desire to help others, thus, when the opportunity presented itself to join the Share the Spirit team, she was excited to see how she could contribute. While pursuing her degrees in Master of Business at Ft. Hays State University, Kansas, she took the role at First Call for Help as backpacks coordinator and also assisted the Salvation Army.  Emily has been instrumental in helping provide shoes for kids and has coordinated families for the Immediate Need program and the Christmas giving.  Her experience as secretary for National Crop Insurance Society is a “shoe-in” for the secretarial position for STS. Living in Lamar, Colorado with their two children, Nick and Emily have the business Golden Plains Insurance.  Emily’s family loves to be outdoors, whether it’s farming, ranching or traveling to the mountains. 

Whitney Barnes is a communications and public affairs professional who first got involved with Share the Spirit after writing about the organization in a local publication in 2016. She spent several years as a volunteer before joining the board in 2021. She is passionate about expanding Share the Spirit in Illinois with a special focus on the organization’s Shoe Clozet program in local Central Illinois schools. She lives in Springfield with her husband Brian who is also an active STS volunteer and their three young children. 

Jessica Edwards is the Director of Customer Experience for MCN Healthcare, a complete software solution for healthcare document management and compliance. She has always been passionate about service to others. Before serving in the U.S. Army, she worked for a non-profit animal shelter and following her service, she has continued to volunteer with Share the Spirit Foundation and numerous food pantries. In 2019 she helped coordinate a shoes for kids event in Austin. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys hikes with her dog and going to the beach near home in San Diego, CA.

Joe McCaleb is owner and physical therapist of Da Vinci Osteopractic Physical Therapy of Lamar, Colorado.  He has a bachelor’s in athletic training from Grand Canyon University and a Master of physical therapy from Texas Tech University.  He maintains many certifications and is a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Joe has demonstrated his expertise in properly fitting shoes in various challenging foot-related cases, contributing a significant depth of knowledge regarding appropriate care. His many hobbies include photography, driving his Dodge Challenger SRT and continuing education.  His Rottweiler Tina travels everywhere he goes.

Jessica Page resides in rural eastern Colorado with her husband and three young children.  She has been involved with local Share the Spirit shoe events for three years. Other volunteer experience includes the African Community Center and the Northwest Coalition for Better Schools, both in Denver, where she also graduated from Regis University.  Jessica enjoys being outdoors with animals and spends her days making sure her children get enough time with both the outdoors and the animals.