FROM CLIENT TO LEADER:
ANGELA TOLLETT
EIGHT YEARS before Angela Tollett became executive director of the TAUW partner agency, Wagoner Area Neighbors, she desperately needed its services to receive school supplies and clothes for her then 9-year-old son. Wagoner Area Neighbors provides food, clothing, and financial assistance for prescriptions, utilities, gas vouchers, and rent. It also offers fresh produce available every day from Walmart and Feeding America.
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When Angela arrived at Wagoner Area Neighbors eight years ago, she was a single mother living with her son in low-income apartments.
Angela Tollett and her son, Blake
“The one thing that he got from the Angel Tree that I was most excited about — I don’t know
“I didn’t have any aspirations,” Angela said. “I was
about him — was he got a really nice coat and a
just living paycheck to paycheck day-by-day.”
set of coveralls,” Angela said. “That was something that I could never afford at the time, so that
But then she struck up a conversation with a
was a real blessing.”
Wagoner Area Neighbors staff member working in the clothing department. They both realized
To improve her one-on-one client intake skills,
Angela would fit in perfectly with the nonprofit.
Angela enrolled in college. She’s now in her third
Not long after, Angela got a job working in the
year working toward a degree in sociology and a
clothing department, too.
minor in psychology.
Eventually, Angela worked her way up from
“Working at Wagoner Area Neighbors has
handling clothes to handling client intake.
completely changed my life,” Angela said. “I want my son to know that no matter how bad things
“I have a particular way of talking with the clients
can get, no matter how it feels like you have no
and relating to them,” Angela said.
opportunities, and you’re going nowhere, there is a chance, and there is hope. I mean, if I can go
During her first three years at Wagoner Area
back to college in my forties and get through it
Neighbors, Angela’s son was among the children
and excel, then he can do anything.”
who had a holiday wish list on its Angel Tree.
