Desi Terpening grew up in Richton Park, Illinois, and attended Rich South High School. She’s lived in the Region since she moved to Indiana in 1989. She went to college for art and worked in downtown Valpo for 12 years as a photographic negative retoucher during the ’90s and into the 2000s. She’s still working in Valpo now, as she’s manager of New Creation Resale Shop and Men’s Center, leading its day-to-day operations.
Terpening’s been in various occupations in her life. New Creation’s former CEO used to frequent the restaurant she managed. Through their friendship, she became acquainted with the organization. She soon began working there, first managing the center’s front desk. Around the time the former CEO left, she took on the role she’s in today.
It’s common for Terpening to provide customer service at her job. Customers come in daily, arriving from all corners of the community. Without that community engagement and interaction, she understands she wouldn’t have much support to help her maintain New Creation’s overall mission and other services. All of it fuels her passion for what she does.
“I love reaching out and helping people in the community,” she said. “If we didn’t have the community support or those generous donations, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do to support our mission and our cause. Our mission here is to advocate for men and combat the homelessness they face in the area. By having the store and managing it, our mission is supported.”
New Creation offers itself as a local oasis of sorts for the struggling in the community. If any of its members can’t afford certain furniture, for example, they’re welcome to come in to find something they might be in urgent need of, usually at an affordable price. Terpening oversees the organization’s voucher program, which assists the individuals with more extreme needs. Through this, New Creation can provide them with housing goods. There are daily clothing vouchers for those who might not own any, and there’s a daily lunch program.
New Creation’s mission statement is centered around this goal for homeless men to find the hope they’ve been searching for, gain tools for success, and achieve renewed lives. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that it does function as a daily shelter where men can safely stay. Community churches also partner with the organization so that these men are given places to experience the peace of refuge.
“This resale shop is a total nonprofit, and it’s so important for the community, because we’re helping to give back one hundred percent,” Terpening said.
From all the food available nearby to the local churches, Valparaiso has revealed to Terpening how generous the city is to its residents. She’s seen the generosity that’s ready to go around whenever, and she’s formed deep connections with many of the locals.
“The food and restaurants here are awesome, but it’s the people that make Valpo. They’re so generous and giving, as well as the churches, and on a daily basis they bring us materials for things like our outreach lunches,” she said. “We just have a lot of great customers, too, that are like family; they know us by name.”
Terpening herself was a gymnast in high school, so she enjoys gymnastics — even to this day. She formerly lived in La Crosse for 20 years, where she organized a gymnastics team in one of the town’s little schools. She served as the team’s volunteer coach, and in 2000 a team of hers took part in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago.
Terpening’s family has always remained close. Her granddaughter sometimes accompanies her to work, but all her grandchildren make sure to bake with her any chance they get, because leisurely she’s a cook. She’ll tend to her regular gardening tasks with joy, ensuring each flower is looked after. The shops, stores, and markets present different chances for her to have more time to introduce the world to her grandkids.
A healthy work-life balance requires constant critiques and improvements. For Terpening, she tries to separate work from leisure time, and vice versa, but here and there she’ll wind up taking back some homework. Her devotion to her vocation is a testament to her willingness to continually do better for the community, yet she’s far from alone in her drive.
“I try hard, but what I like most about my job is the help and support of my great staff and volunteers,” she said.