Operation Love’s Joy Plummer has
“heart as big as the world”
By Richard Sitler | The Herald Bulletin

(reprinted from the HERALD-BULLETIN article, dated March 24, 2009)
ANDERSON — Joy Plummer, Executive Director of Operation Love Ministries, fits her name.
Plummer, 44, the mother of Seth, 14, and Claire 12, emanates joy.
She was born in Kenya to missionaries, raised on a cattle ranch in western Nebraska and graduated from Anderson University.
Plummer has served as a missionary in Kenya and Tanzania and was involved in a nationally acclaimed program in Western Virginia working with welfare reform.
Plummer was nominated for “Positive People” by Michelle Hood.
“Joy is one of the most caring, selfless people I know. She is a very busy woman,” Hood said. “She is the director of Operation Love Ministries.

Joy Plummer, Executive Director of Operation Love Ministries. Plummer (right) helps Michelle Hood and her son Jacob, 7, pick out clothes at Operation Love Ministries. They were looking for clothes for Hood's daughter Jewleonna, 5, as well as for Jacob.  Richard Sitler / The Herald Bulletin

She has a heart as big as the world and if you have a problem she will make time to help you.”Hood continued, “She is the strength that holds this program {Operation Love Ministries} together and she never asks anything of anyone for herself. She always puts her personal life aside to help others, all the while taking care of her own family. She has pulled me through some tough times and encouraged me to volunteer here myself.”
Hood closed her nomination: “She deserves more of a thank you, but a thank you is all I have, so if you can find it in your heart to pick her you will be doing the community and myself a great thing in thanking her.”
Sitting in her office surrounded by artwork from Africa, Plummer exudes the attributes described by Hood.
In answering a question about what motivates her Plummer explained, “The fact that everyone needs to know that they are valued and are given hope, that they have a future, for me it is my relationship with Christ. You want people to know that Christ loves them, that people love them, that they are valued and they have hope for the future.”
Plummer explained that these attitudes are vital and that, when working to help people, it is important to help them change their mindset. Plummer is a good example and role model in that it is difficult to have anything but a positive mindset while being around her.