ST. GEORGE — Carol Hollowell has told the story many times.
She recalls the moment, 10 years ago, when she was inspired to create the Switchpoint Community Resource Center.
“I was driving to work one day and I passed a homeless man in a wheelchair,” Hollowell told St. George News. “I kind of drove on but then saw him in the rearview, and I just thought, ‘I have to do something.’ So I turned around and went back and talked to him.”
The man’s name was Ray, she said, and through talking to him, Hollowell experienced an epiphany.
“It was that ‘rearview moment’ when I realized I can do something bigger,” Hollowell said. She was able to help the man get an ID that day and got him into a temporary shelter, the first time he was housed in five years.
“It was an epic moment of saying, ‘I can do this. I can help other people,’” she added. “I went to the city (of St. George) and the rest is history.”
That history includes running and maintaining the Switchpoint shelter facility, multiple thrift stores, the Switchpoint Coffee Company and the Switchpoint Garden.
Switchpoint helps run Stepping Stones, a daycare facility for kids as well as Bed ‘n’ Biscuits and 24/7 care facility for pets.
Those businesses and services are just part of the overall effort Switchpoint, and Hollowell, have made to battle homelessness and economic disadvantage in St. George.
“I’ve never met anybody who says, yep, I want to be homeless, this is what I want because it’s so fun,” Hollowell said. “That’s a huge misconception and stereotype that people believe, that the homeless are lazy or choose it or all addicts and criminals. That’s just not the case.”
Really listening to people, she added, helps “peel back that onion” and reveals why someone has given up and lost hope.
“They’re just in survival mode,” Hollowell said.
Hollowell’s creativity, passion and desire to be a force for good have been noticed.
So much so, in fact, she received two prestigious awards on the same day.
Hollowell was honored with the Utah Tech University Presidential Distinguished Citizen Award, given Thursday night on the Utah Tech campus.
At the same time in Salt Lake City, Hollowell received the 6th Annual Utah Community Builder Award from the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.
“Carol’s dedication and vision have made a profound difference in our community,” Chamber President and CEO Derek Miller said in a press release. “Her innovative approach to addressing homelessness sets a new standard, and we are honored to recognize her for these life-changing efforts.”
The award was presented at the annual “Giant in Our City” banquet Thursday night at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.
Even for Hollowell, who is no stranger to winning awards, being twice-honored was unusual.
“I was really surprised to be nominated and awarded both on the same day at the same time in different cities. I feel bad that I can’t go to both,” she said, noting that she attended the ceremony in Salt Lake City because that was the one she heard about and committed to first.
“It’s an opportunity for me to impress upon people that it’s not just me,” Hollowell said. “Yes, I work hard, but I am surrounded by an incredible staff and a passionate cadre of volunteers. I’m the face of Switchpoint but that doesn’t mean I do all the work.”
Linda Stay stands in
Linda Stay, development director at Switchpoint, has been a friend and colleague to Hollowell for the last six years.
“Carol is unlike anyone I’ve ever met before,” Stay told St. George News. “She is truly the most tenacious, passionate, diligent person working to better the lives of those experiencing homelessness or poverty.”
Stay stood in for Hollowell Thursday night at the Presidential Awards, the annual event Utah Tech hosts to honor noteworthy citizens in the community.
Stay said it was an honor to accept the Distinguished Citizen Award on her behalf, noting that Hollowell sometimes works 18-hour days and still finds time to be “a visionary.”
“There’s something deep inside of Carol, that tenaciousness,” Stay said. “She won’t take no for an answer. She’ll find a way to get things done.”
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