"I had such a lovely bond with Elvina. I was the director of the Health Outreach Bus program [at the Night Ministry] during part of the time she volunteered with us. Also, she wanted to volunteer for the AIDS Ride one year (Chicago to Lake Geneva, Wis., and back), but she needed a “support volunteer” herself in order to do it. She worked on Kari and me for months, dropping into our offices when she’d come to volunteer on the bus. “Well, have you decided?” she’d say, with that look that said, I’m counting on you. Kari decided to ride, and I agreed to volunteer alongside Elvina. Our job was to get to the rest stops early, unload the food and water from the support truck, and serve the riders as they arrived. Elvina could do none of that. However, she could do what she did best – hold court, entertain the tired and dusty riders, offer encouragement. I remember a young woman rider sharing lunch with Elvina and telling her she was inspired just by Elvina’s presence there."