Sarah Kieckhaefer: A Grand Junction Community Hero Shining Through Compassion and Service

Community & Society, Culture, Ethics, Featured, Veterans

Sarah Kieckhaefer: A Grand Junction Community Hero Shining Through Compassion and Service

Sarah Kieckhaefer is a prominent figure in Grand Junction, transforming lives through her work with Grand Valley Outreach Ministries (GVOM) and Celebrate Recovery. A U.S. Navy veteran, she focuses on assisting the overlooked, advocating compassion and generosity, while continually expanding GVOM to help the community’s most vulnerable members.

Ashes

April 4, 2025

6–9 minutes

In Grand Junction, where the Colorado Plateau’s rugged beauty meets the warmth of a tight-knit community, Sarah Kieckhaefer stands out as a true local hero. Through her work with Grand Valley Outreach Ministries (GVOM), her leadership in Celebrate Recovery, and her tireless dedication to serving others, Sarah is transforming lives with compassion, faith, and an unwavering commitment to the overlooked. A U.S. Navy veteran who once repaired fighter jets, Sarah’s journey—from the flight deck to the streets of Grand Junction—is a testament to her resilience, generosity, and belief in the power of kindness, inspiring us all to extend a hand to those in need.

A Heart for the Overlooked

For Sarah, the mission of GVOM is deeply personal. “One thing I wish people would understand about the community is that the people that are overlooked on the street corners, begging for food, typically are asking for food because they are hungry,” she shared with AshesOnAir.org. “Whatever path these people chose in their life led them to where they are, just like all of us. Our decisions in our life are a direct reflection of who we are today.” Sarah’s words carry a powerful message: we are not to judge others, but to share our resources and compassion as God intended. “All people are God’s people, no matter their finances, address, mistakes they have made in their life, or their ethnicity,” she said. “I would hope that people would find generosity and kindness to be one of their attributes—that they can witness somebody in need and extend a hand to help them.”

This nonjudgmental, compassionate approach is the heartbeat of Grand Valley Outreach Ministries (GVOM), which Sarah founded in January 2025 after a series of life-changing events. A Thanksgiving turkey drive in 2024 opened her eyes to the depth of need in her community. “I posted an ad on Marketplace for a free turkey after a farm-raised turkey was delivered to me, leaving my family with an extra turkey,” she recounted. “There were 37 people messaging me in need for this single turkey. My heart was saddened.” With the help of her friend Jayson Boebert, Sarah secured a truckload of turkeys for families in need, sparking the idea for GVOM. Around the same time, her involvement with Celebrate Recovery—a faith-based program for overcoming addiction and trauma—connected her with Steven Vigil, a like-minded leader. Together, they turned their shared compassion into action, launching GVOM to serve the less fortunate in Grand Junction.

Transforming Lives Through GVOM

GVOM’s mission is to enrich lives by assisting those in need and sharing the love of God. “On weekly endeavors, we feed and clothe the unhoused people in our community,” Sarah explained. “Each month we create a new project event targeting a new demographic.” From providing over 50 Easter baskets for children at Pathways Homeless Family Shelter to serving lunch every Saturday at the HomewardBound Resource Center—where they feed approximately 150 people weekly—GVOM’s impact is profound. In May, they plan to provide leashes, collars, dog food, and mobile vet services to the unhoused, ensuring pets are cared for too. “Our numbers for volunteers continue to grow each week as more kindness is put into people’s hearts to provide God’s kindness and love through their service,” Sarah said.

GVOM operates on the generosity of volunteers and donors, relying on tax-deductible contributions and physical donations as a 501(c)(3) organization. “We have come across a few people that have requested assistance, and we have had to refer them to other organizations in the valley due to lack of funds and resources,” Sarah noted, highlighting the ongoing need for support. You can follow their work and get involved through their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gvoutreachministries.

A Vision for the Future

Sarah’s vision for GVOM is ambitious yet grounded in faith. “Our plans and goals for Grand Valley Outreach Ministries are to continue to grow and provide the word of God and the love to all those we come across,” she said. A key goal is to acquire a facility to store and distribute resources. Currently, GVOM works with the HomewardBound Resource Center, but its future is uncertain. They’ve also partnered with Food Bank of the Rockies and are poised to expand their efforts once they secure a commercial facility for storing dry and cold food. “Our goals are in place, but moving forward, our future is in God’s hands,” Sarah shared. “We lean not into our own understanding, but follow Him in all we do.”

GVOM offers many ways for the community to get involved. “We have many opportunities for people who would like to volunteer and people that would like to donate either monetary blessings or physical donations,” Sarah said. Donation bins are placed throughout Grand Junction, moved monthly to build alliances with local businesses while collecting resources for their projects. Monetary donation links, including PayPal, Cash App, and GoFundMe, are available on their Facebook page, with immediate tax-deductible receipts provided. “Updates are given daily on our Facebook page along with events you can be involved in, along with the locations of our donation bins,” Sarah added.

From Fighter Jets to Community Service

Sarah’s journey of service began long before GVOM. As a fully service-connected disabled veteran of the U.S. Navy, she served as a mechanic on F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, double-qualified in hydraulic repairs (AMH) and structural repairs (AMS). Her technical expertise ensured these aircraft were mission-ready, a testament to her skill and dedication. Today, she channels that same precision and commitment into her community work, repairing not just machines but lives through compassion and outreach.

Her military background also fuels her advocacy for veterans. Sarah is a board member of Western Colorado Hives for Heroes, a beekeeping group for veterans, first responders, and law enforcement, where she supports those who’ve served while fostering healing through nature. You can learn more about their work on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/1687MVGAPx/?mibextid=wwXIfr. She’s also a member of the Western Colorado Beekeeping Association, further connecting with her community through shared passions.

A Life Woven with Purpose

GVOM is just one thread in the rich tapestry of Sarah’s life. As an executive assistant for Celebrate Recovery at Victory Life Church (VLC) in Fruita, she’s built a “close-knit family from the blood of Christ.” Celebrate Recovery at VLC, which you can follow on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/people/Celebrate-Recovery-VLC/61571771879441/, provides a space for healing and support, and Sarah hosts a step studies Bible study group every Thursday at her home for its leaders. Many of her group members volunteer with GVOM, blending the two missions seamlessly.

Alongside her husband, Sarah runs Genesis Appliance Service, a business offering repairs for major kitchen and laundry appliances as well as gas fireplaces. They maintain both a website presence at www.grandjunctionapplianceservice.com and www.grandjunctionappliancerepair.com, as well as a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/genesissvcs. Her husband not only provides top-notch repairs but also shares the word of God with clients, weaving faith into their work.

A mother of three, Sarah has also given the gift of family to others, helping seven families have children as an egg donor. Beyond her outreach and family endeavors, Sarah is an avid beekeeper, for Western Colorado’s Hives for Heros.

A Hero’s Call to Action

Sarah is a Grand Junction hero whose life is a testament to compassion, faith, and service. From her days as a Navy mechanic ensuring F-14 Tomcats were ready for flight, to her current mission of feeding the hungry, uplifting the overlooked, and supporting her community through various initiatives, Sarah’s journey is one of unwavering dedication. Through GVOM, Celebrate Recovery, Hives for Heroes, and her many roles, she’s making the Junction a better place, one act of kindness at a time. Her message is clear: see the overlooked, extend a hand, and share God’s love without judgment. As she put it, “We are not to judge others, but we are to share our resources and compassion as God intended us to do.”

*Sarah Marie, and her Navy peers, (second in from the left)*

If you’d like to support Sarah and GVOM—whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading the word—visit their GoFundMe page to contribute, or connect with them on their Facebook page for daily updates, events, and donation bin locations.