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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/4892d0bb-0326-4965-947d-d879fc87ceb4/E_001-6.jpg.webp https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories daily 0.75 2025-12-19 https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/440e0a5f-1732-445b-9d3e-0a73608f5ab0/portfolio-429.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Crump, a member of the Orange County Beekeepers Association, checks his box hives in Durham, North Carolina, one out of 75 hives he maintains across Hillsborough, Johnson, Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham and Alamance counties. Now 72 years old, Crump has been in and out of beekeeping since the 1980s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/8765811b-8da2-4e40-acbb-6240c27cf28f/portfolio-434.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Brad Kosiba, beekeeper based in Hillsborough and a member of the OCBA, prepares to smoke a box hive by burning pine straw inside a fire chamber and puffing it repeatedly to catch a flame at Blackwood Farm Park in Orange County. He has been beekeeping for 14 years and currently manages five hives. Kosiba gently smokes the bees by placing smoke at the entrance and the top of the hive before opening it to calm them down. He said the smoke disrupts the bees’ alarm pheromone and defense response when they perceive their nest is being invaded, which results in less stinging behavior. He lets the smoke sit for one to two minutes, being careful not to overdo it, as too much smoke can harm the bees. “There are times I can go into a beehive and not use smoke,” Kosiba said. “The only times are when I'm doing little work, I'm just going to feed them or something like that, I can be gentle enough. But if you're going to do much of anything, you’re gonna need to distract them.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/7eff346c-29f9-4b9a-bf17-17abd08132c6/portfolio-433.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping The beekeepers prepare to inspect the box hive by smoking it at Blackwood Farm Park. Kosiba said there are community events at Blackwood where everyone can come and help out. Although beekeeping can be a solitary pursuit, he said community events are fun and that learning from fellow beekeepers is essential. “You come out of beekeeping school thinking that you’ve learned it all, and then you get out to your bees and it’s like, they’re not doing it the way they said in the book,” Kosiba said. “There’s an old saying, ‘The bees never read the book,’ and the only way you can deal with that is with the fellow beekeepers.” Vogel said the community of beekeepers is a quirky, generous and sometimes cantankerous group of people from all walks of life, from teachers to PhD scientists. Crump said they are “sharing people.” “People tend to look after each other,” Crump said. “Your struggles are my struggles.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/ea80ee2f-f87a-45dc-b54d-bc92908f95c5/portfolio-426.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Bees are considered a “superorganism,” meaning the colony functions as a single entity rather than a group of individuals. Vogel said the bees know exactly what their role is in the colony and have different tasks throughout their lives. Within the hive, there are three different types of bees: queens, drones and worker bees. There is typically only one queen, who is primarily responsible for reproduction. Drones are male bees that mate with virgin queens outside the hive, and worker bees are females who do not lay eggs under normal circumstances. Worker bees perform a variety of other tasks, such as cleaning the cells and brood and caring for the queen. Brood refers to the developing stages of bees, including eggs, larvae and pupae. The white in the cells is larvae, the darker brownish orange is capped brood, and the lighter orange is pollen, which is the source of protein for bees. Kosiba said the system that makes a beehive thrive is remarkable. “The bees never fail to give me challenges and problems that are hard to figure out,” Kosiba said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/0d2a0bde-20ad-4b81-8fec-034026390e99/portfolio-432.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Andrew Ford, a member of the OCBA, creates an alcohol wash to inspect the hive for varroa mites, parasites that originated in Asia and came to the United States in the 1980s that carry harmful viruses. The viruses, including deformed wing virus, can infect bees and wipe out an entire colony if too many mites are present. There are multiple ways to test for varroa mites, but during the alcohol wash, beekeepers take a half cup of bees, approximately 300 bees, and shake them up in a container of alcohol. The varroa mites release from the bees and fall to the bottom, where they can be counted. Based on the percentage of bees that had mites, beekeepers decide whether treatment is necessary. Kosiba said if more than 2 percent of bees have mites, treatment should be considered, though it depends on the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/59ef33fd-4a2e-411a-9247-91125b276bae/portfolio-421.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Vogel checks the alcohol wash for any mites that have fallen off the bees. Vogel said she treats for mites four times a year, calling it “a big deal.” She currently has eight hives. “The mites are the thing that probably kills bees more than anything,” she said. “If you’re intent on keeping your bees alive, you gotta check for mites.” Treatment involves using various chemicals such as formic acid, thymol and oxalic acid. Vogel uses oxalic acid, which she vaporizes inside the hive for three minutes to kill the mites without harming the bees. Kosiba uses formic acid, which comes in a pad placed inside the bee box that releases fumes throughout the hive. He leaves the pads in the hive for two weeks, which does not affect the bees or the honey being produced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/b95241c8-714f-44dd-9b03-60bf5f7b2838/portfolio-431.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Kosiba scoops bees into the container to prepare for an alcohol wash at Blackwood. He said he enjoys beekeeping because it helps him connect to nature. “I just like being out,” he said. “I’m a strong believer in vitamin O, which is the outside. I think it’s the thing that’s missing most in the current lifestyle in America.” He said beekeeping is pure fun. “There’s nothing like going out to a field in Orange County at 5:30 or 6 o'clock in the morning in the summer, and being there at sunrise, the mist is rising off the field and the bees are not quite waking up,” Kosiba said. “It’s incredible.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/769b9408-5c26-4f79-a4c0-eb3b8e7bd67a/portfolio-427.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Kosiba said one thing people tend to forget is that bees are not pets but livestock, and that they must be treated that way. “You have to make sure they don’t get disease or they die,” he said. “You have to make sure that they’re fed or they die. It’s a very unforgiving process in many ways, but when it works, it’s really beautiful.” Kosiba said too many people get into beekeeping because they think it’s “cute,” and that they need to be better educated. Vogel said there is a lot of romantic idealism about beekeeping and that people do not understand how hard the work can be. “It’s a difficult hobby,” Vogel said. “There is a lot of tedium and repetition.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/19fd67fc-2f28-405b-8bd7-0a6da3c33986/portfolio-425.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Crump cleans out feeders that he fills with sugar water to feed bees when there isn’t enough nectar. Bees make honey from the nectar they collect from flowers, but there are times during the year when nectar is scarce, a period called the dearth according to Crump. During the dearth, some beekeepers feed them sugar water, which the bees can use to make honey. The ratio of sugar to water is either 1-to-1 or 2-to-1, depending on the season. Kosiba calls the honey produced by sugar water “funny honey” and said the bees will always prefer real flowers. He said it’s not the kind of honey beekeepers sell but helps the bees survive through winter. “You can feed them sugar water all you want, but if there’s enough nectar out there, they’re going to leave it in the feeder,” Kosiba said. “They’re going to say, ‘Why would I want this crap?’ It’s like the difference between a gourmet restaurant and trail food.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/91bd03f7-3cae-45b9-8bc9-6d82c66e4820/portfolio-424.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Crump decaps honey from his frames before extracting it. Extraction is the process of separating honey from beeswax combs to harvest it for use. Once the frames are full of honey, the bees preserve it by capping it in wax cells. To extract the honey, the caps must be removed, which Crump does with a knife. Once decapped, the frames are placed in a honey extractor, a large centrifuge that spins around and flings the honey out without damaging the honeycomb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/846c492b-15f6-4a1b-b47a-0739bd6587ce/portfolio-423.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Crump places the frame in the honey extractor. As it spins, honey flows out of the bottom and is collected in a bucket. Once the honey is produced, Crump uses a honey-filling machine to bottle the honey. Harvesting and extracting can be physically demanding due to the heavy weight of the honey. Crump said the biggest challenge in beekeeping is the lifting, and that many beekeepers stop with age because of the back problems it causes. Vogel said older beekeepers will switch from a 10-frame hive box to an eight-frame, which is smaller and easier to handle. She attends weightlifting classes two or three times a week to continue beekeeping. Last year, she harvested nearly 500 pounds of honey and often calls her son for help. “Harvesting honey is extremely heavy when you’re working by yourself and you’re lifting 50-pound boxes of a hive by yourself,” Vogel said. “You can injure yourself pretty quickly if you’re not careful.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/1521425a-09eb-4fe0-bb42-e76d279d5aa2/portfolio-430.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Crump sells his honey eight times a year at Plant Delights Nursery in Wake County. He owns Westover Apiaries and sells more than 16 different types of honey depending on the season. The types of honey produced depend on flowers’ nectar, which affects both taste and color. He sells his honey for $30 a jar. He said most beekeepers charge $15, which undercuts those trying to make a living. “It’s just a matter of how much people value food,” Crump said. “If you value the quality of your food, then that person is going to be more likely to be my client than somebody that’s just looking for cheap and they’re not concerned about what they eat.” Crump said he is developing a brand and that his clients come from a wide range of demographics. Vogel called him a “salesman extraordinaire." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/810e1627-4f65-49a1-b9d5-b0438b387122/portfolio-422.jpg Photo stories - The Art of Beekeeping Crump considers himself a “sideliner” beekeeper, someone who tries to make money but doesn’t do it full time. The other types of beekeepers are hobbyists, who sell to friends and family, and commercial beekeepers, who make it their full-time profession. Kosiba sells his honey to his friends and family and often gives it as holiday gifts. Vogel said she used to sell her honey in stores around Orange County and plans to participate in a holiday market this year. Vogel said she found her passion in beekeeping and knew she was hooked the first time she tried it. “It was like, oh my gosh, I feel like I did this in another life or something,” Vogel said. https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y-453pw monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/de161e17-6edf-44f4-b66d-10d807a29ee3/20241205_Kollme_Final_1.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Mary Hughes, 91, suffers from dementia, heart failure and aortic stenosis, which prevents blood from flowing normally from the heart to the body. Her conditions make it difficult for her to breathe, causing her to rely on an oxygen concentrator to give her extra oxygen every day. She can no longer do anything on her own, and spends most of her days in bed. Her daughter, Tina Canter, has been forced to adopt the role of a caregiver to look after Mary, putting her life on hold to satisfy Mary’s every need. Mary moved into Tina’s house in 2009, and Tina has been caring for her since 2016. Tina does everything for her mother, from clothing and feeding her to helping her move from her bed to her chair. The intense and demanding nature of caregiving makes it difficult for Tina to maintain her own personal identity and happiness away from Mary. While juggling Mary’s needs, Tina works to make time for herself and find ways to adjust to her life as a caregiver. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e27b7491-2fa8-48f6-94bd-291a75308107/20241205_Kollme_Final_2.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina, 56, helps Mary get out of bed while her bird, Buddy, greets her. Tina gets Mary up every morning, helps her to the bathroom and makes her Cream of Wheat breakfast with tea. Tina is Mary’s caregiver, defined as an individual who assists a person with daily activities, usually a loved one or elderly person. Tina was also her father Baden’s caregiver before he passed away in April. Tina said her parents’ decline happened gradually. “It gradually happened,” Tina said. “I would see they weren’t going to their doctor’s appointments, so I needed to step in and start making their appointments. Then they both had significant falls. That was overwhelming, but you quickly learn to adapt because this is what they need. I woke up one day and was like, ‘Holy cow, I’m responsible for these two other people.’” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e55849e6-63c8-4cab-ade9-4ed48633894a/20241205_Kollme_Final_3.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina helps Mary use the bathroom. Every day, Tina helps Mary out of bed and guides her hands onto her walker. She places her hands firmly on Mary’s hips while she shuffles to the bathroom to ensure she keeps her balance. She replaces Mary’s diaper, brushes her teeth and hair, and applies cream to her scabs before returning her back to her bed. Although Mary has been living with Tina since 2009, she did not need this level of help until 2016. When Mary and her husband Baden first moved into Tina’s house, they were very helpful. “My parents were just really good to my family and they would do everything for us,” Tina said. “My dad would mow the grass and mom would clean the house.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/2dd24313-faab-4f95-9c7a-11d80a7ba2e5/20241205_Kollme_Final_4.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina prepares tea for Mary. Tina is a natural caregiver, with a history of taking care of children with special needs and volunteering for the homeless community. Her brother, Gordon, passed away in February at 69 from lung cancer and struggled with mental illness growing up. This taught Tina the importance of treating people with kindness. “My parents always showed me that you have to have compassion for our fellow Americans, for our fellow people out there,” Tina said. “I think that's the core, and I think that's where I will wind up doing something like that.” She also worked in hospitality for 12 years, which is where her need to take care of people and make them feel satisfied came from. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/a5b17ad0-0ff2-4dc9-9a83-8ab05106aca8/20241205_Kollme_Final_5.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina helps Mary get into the car by guiding her hands onto the handle and lifting her body inside. Leaving the house is a rare occasion for Mary, and it only happens when she has mandatory doctor’s appointments. Tina recently thought she might need to take Mary to the hospital. “She was having a hard time breathing and then she started shaking,” Tina said. “It was almost like, you know, when you're so cold you're shivering, and she just couldn't stop. At the same time she like, ‘I can't breathe.’” Tina called the EMT’s and they made sure she was okay, concluding that Mary was having a panic attack. “I think she had a panic attack because she wasn't feeling good, she couldn't breathe and she didn't know what was going on,” Tina said. “She was in panic mode. So I'm grateful that I did keep her home and didn't let them take her to the hospital. She’s doing much better.” She said Mary has good days and has bad days. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/864d11cc-df03-4f4b-a637-23333b1c4f6d/20241205_Kollme_Final_6.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Mary and Tina wait for the foot doctor. Although Tina has the personality for a caregiver, it has not been easy balancing her own wants and needs. “I’m not living my true life,” Tina said. “I like to get up and get out of the house early in the morning and enjoy the outdoors and go for a walk, and I’m not able to do that. However, this is completely temporary. And if I can suit up and show up during these temporary times, it will give me the power to keep on getting through.” Tina said caregiving has caused her to undergo depression and has heightened her anxiety. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, 20% of family caregivers suffer from depression. “I find it important to stay strong for her,” Tina said. “I have to be a big girl about everything. Sometimes I don’t want to be, but it’s okay.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/31f8c532-fd7c-4c28-a7a0-73fc1cf2abea/20241205_Kollme_Final_7.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina helps Mary as she uses her walker. Tina prefers to help Mary herself because of past issues with hospice nurses. “When you have another personality in your home that also has a caregiver background or experience, you really have to find somebody that meets your personality,” Tina said. “It would be best for somebody that’s coming into someone else’s house to just sit back and take in the aura of the house and then see where they fit in.” Another frustration Tina deals with is waiting around for help to arrive, because rescheduling and being on time is constantly an issue. Tina said it is irritating because she is always on standby and therefore cannot make any appointments or leave the house in case a nurse shows up. “My life is on hold,” Tina said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/47f2b8c0-4746-4dab-96b9-86d2d4d030d5/20241205_Kollme_Final_8.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Andrellea McNeil, Mary’s hospice nurse, gives her a shower. Andrellea works for Transitions LifeCare and has been bathing Mary for eight months. Every Wednesday and Friday, Andrellea helps Mary out of bed and wheels her to the shower. In the shower, Mary sits on a chair while Andrellea washes her hair and uses a washcloth to wash her body. Going as quickly as possible, she then dries her hair with a blowdryer before bringing Mary back to bed. “Even when I get her out of the shower, she’s still gasping for breath and I’m trying to blow dry her hair,” Andrellea said. “I’m doing it quickly because I want to get her back to her oxygen. She’s just so out of breath and the shower really wears her out.” She said she has seen Mary’s condition decline and that her showers are much faster now, out of fear that Mary will pass out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e8383f36-e803-41f4-bc12-d2fc660be1a1/20241205_Kollme_Final_9.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Andrellea McNeil blow-dries Mary’s hair after her shower. She said Mary is an extremely easy patient and that she loves her. Although the Canters can afford this extra help, many families cannot. According to a 2021 Caregiving Out-of-Pocket Costs Study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the average family caregiver spends 26% of their income on caregiving. Half of the caregivers in the study reported using their own money for household-related expenses and said they have experienced financial setbacks. “We have to be mindful of how we’re spending our money on caretaking,” Tina’s husband, Duane, said. “If we’re going to do it, it needs to be for a purpose. Prior to Andrellea, we had other caretakers, but all we were doing was paying a lot of money and not really getting a whole lot in return. They would just sit on a chair there in case something happened while Tina was out running errands.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/9461c45e-030c-482e-ba58-d647197b8c6d/20241205_Kollme_Final_11.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Mary uses her oxygen concentrator to breathe more easily, which has become her lifeline. “You can see she’s really suffering,” Tina said. “She can’t get her breath out and that scares the shit out of me. I do not want to watch her die, and that’s what I am struggling with. I want to think I am strong enough, but I haven’t been put in that position yet.” Tina goes to therapy once a week and is currently working on anticipatory grief. “It’s really hard grieving somebody that’s still here, but she’s not, because she’s not the mom that I grew up with,” Tina said. “How do you prepare yourself for one’s death? I think acceptance, that's what you have to do. I think that in my life, having been the main caregiver of my parents, I've had to accept this role, accepting that my mother's gonna die, accepting that we're all gonna die.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e460de1d-66de-4735-86d9-159bcabe99df/20241205_Kollme_Final_10.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tristan, Tina’s son, lies with Mary during his visit. He lives in Frederick, Maryland, where the whole family used to reside before moving to Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Tristan said he is very close with his mother, and she usually calls him to vent about caregiving. “We talk on the phone a lot, and there's definitely been times she's called me and I can tell something's up,” Tristan said. “She won't just call me crying, but you start talking about it and she'll get a little emotional. We all need that ability to vent a little bit.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/5891fc95-95bb-4452-87e0-67523df77e26/20241205_Kollme_Final_12.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina cuddles with Benji, her 4-month-old Shih Tzu. Tina recently bought another Shih Tzu, Archie, who is 11 weeks old. Tina said they provide unconditional love, which was needed in the house. “They have been a really nice addition to our house,” Tina said. “We needed some puppy love and some four-legged friends.” Andrellea said Tina is putting her time into her puppies to distract herself from Mary’s worsening condition. “I think if she didn’t have the puppies to worry about and she’s sitting there watching her mom deteriorate, and then her dad is in his urn on the little side table, that would make her extremely depressed,” Andrellea said. “None of us live our lives expecting to bury our parents or having to deal with the death of a loved one. I don’t even think there is any kind of preparation anybody could do to get prepared for that transition of life.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/aa43441d-7093-4519-af9c-4297cbb24b4d/20241205_Kollme_Final_14.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina looks through old photo albums with her close neighborhood friend Nancy Sadick before they eat dinner together. Due to the intense time commitment caregiving requires, Tina has to be very intentional when trying to find time for herself to do what makes her happy. She has a close-knit neighborhood community, and they try to get together once a week for dinner. She is also a part of the neighborhood book club, “The Hens,” and joined a yoga studio. Tina is very people-oriented and gets her strength from the community around her. “My friends are very supportive and I don’t think I would be able to get through this without them,” Tina said. Even during these rare occasions where Tina is not with Mary, she is always on the clock. “We have a fire pit in our backyard and they come over frequently,” said Nancy. “Tina is always paying attention to the time and she’s like ,“I gotta go home and give meds,’ or ‘I gotta go home and put Mary to bed. We’ll be back.’” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/347a338d-1640-43e7-8477-8c2656ab23ca/20241205_Kollme_Final_13.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina talks with Duane and her neighbor, Craig Munnings, outside her house in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Aside from her friends, Tina leans on her husband for support. Duane said they have a strong relationship and have been married for 30 years. They met on a blind date in 1994 and were engaged six months later. “She was just gorgeous,” he said. “She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and still is. And she was very funny and affable.” He said he is constantly impressed with how she has cared for her parents. “I just have this amazing respect for her for what she does diligently, without fail,” Duane said. “She takes such good care of her parents and she always looked out for their well-being, regardless of whether she would get frustrated. It never stopped her from doing all the duties she needed to do to care for them to the best of her abilities.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/4a3dd5ca-e68e-4b78-8a74-ac0c6658aa86/20241205_Kollme_Final_15.jpg Photo stories - Life on Hold Tina embraces Mary. She said that although her caregiving journey has been challenging, it has also been deeply rewarding. “My parents were always very selfless people,” Tina said. “At the end of the day, I thank God for the time that we’ve had and I thank Him for her still being here and giving me the energy and the ability to take care of her.” https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y-453pw-wa8kb monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/8c9ac519-4d46-44bd-b1d4-49d7fbfbcd82/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects1-1.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Markie Mark, a cat who was thrown out of a car, is getting treated. He experienced heavy bleeding from his right ear due to the impact of the moving vehicle. Veterinarian Dr. Avnee Mistry applied quick stop anticoagulant powder on the ear to stop the bleeding. Markie Mark will go to a foster home to recover before being put up for adoption. Mistry said the treatment of these animals is unfair. “Our first and foremost goal is to care for these animals and provide care and support,” Mistry said. “And to think that someone also not only didn't want this cat, but then caused harm to this animal, to me, it hurts me in a way. Especially a kitten, someone so vulnerable like that, it just seems so so unfair.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e4925a36-09da-48c6-b063-966573087f89/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects2-2+.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Jill Claude Del Valle, the receiving and kennel teams supervisor at Wake County, holds Benjamin still while Mistry sedates him. Mistry said the shelter is unsure of the cause of Benjamin’s leg injury but suspects it resulted from blunt force trauma. She said most dogs are hit by cars, though the exact cause of their injuries is often unknown. Benjamin was sedated so Mistry could clean the wound and apply a splint to stabilize the leg. Mistry is a part of the veterinary medical team, alongside Dr. Sarah McCain, and veterinary assistants Alex Baugher, Mattlin Fagan, Nate Selig and Caroline Denya. Together, they fulfill the medical needs of the animals. Mistry emphasized the importance of her team members, saying they serve as the “eyes and ears” for all the animals in the shelter, enabling her to provide more comprehensive care. Claude Del Valle is on the receiving team, handling initial assessments, administering vaccines, evaluating behavior and informing the veterinary team of the next steps. “There are people you get to share your successes with,” Mistry said. “Having a good team makes the hard days so much better because we feel the same things, but we are there to support each other and it's huge. We really do try to have a very supportive and inclusive environment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/80011b76-4778-4b0c-b3e6-f7957e18f8dc/portfolio-242.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Dr. Sarah McCain sedates cats and shaves their scrotum in preparation for neuter surgeries. Mistry estimates that 98% of the surgeries performed at the shelter are spays and neuters, procedures that prevent animals from reproducing. Spaying, the procedure for female animals, involves removing the ovaries and uterus, while neutering, for male animals, removes their testicals. Mistry said she believes two major factors contributing to shelter overpopulation are the failure to spay or neuter pets and the cost of veterinary care, which many people cannot afford. “There are unwanted litters of puppies that get born and we get them to come in,” Mistry said. “We have a lot of people who can’t afford the cost of veterinary care. For example, we have someone whose dog ate a foreign body and the owners couldn't pay for the treatment. And so they're like, ‘Well, I guess we just have to euthanize this animal.’” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/efef4146-827a-42c2-85f3-47b9f7b269f4/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects4.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Veterinary assistants Selig and Denya sedate a dog before his neutering. Mistry said the center performs around 20 spay and neuter surgeries each day. Mistry estimates that the shelter has between 80 and 100 dogs on the adoption floor and 200 animals in foster care. Mistry said the constant influx of animals needing homes has led to overcrowding, making her feel helpless at times. “There's so many animals coming in, so many animals that need help,” Mistry said. “There's probably over 300 families who are trying to get their dogs surrendered to the shelter because they can't look after them. And as we have so many dogs in the shelter, we literally just don't have the kennel space to help them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/f5d22dcd-e96b-4f11-98e8-20dddffba644/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects5-5.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Veterinary assistants Selig and Denya grab the next dog to sedate and prepare for neutering. Cats are kept on the top rows, while dogs are on the bottom. All of the animals are adopted and need to be spayed or undergo surgery before going home, which usually happens on the same day. Each animal’s sign on their crate lists important details, including pain medication or sedation injections to be administered before and after surgery. Once the procedure is finished, younger animals are given the reversal drug, Antiseden, to wake them up from anesthesia. “Especially for younger cats, you don't want them to be under anesthesia or sedated for too long because there's risks as well, so we'll reverse them as soon as they're done with their procedure,” Mistry said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/b28aec60-92fd-47b8-914b-b247ff0ffc1a/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects6-6.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help McCain spays a dog by removing both sides of the uterus out, tying it off, and then removing it from the body. Mistry, who also performs surgeries, said that despite the emotional challenges of the job, it is rewarding to see animals go from “rags to riches” after receiving proper nutrition, preventative care and love. “They go from being these dirty, skinny little guys to full, happy healthy animals who then find homes,” Mistry said. “It’s really rewarding to see the majority of the animals really flourish under your care.” She said she takes pride in being an advocate for animals in cruelty cases and giving them a voice. “There are people on the side of these animals trying to help make their lives better,” Mistry said. “I get to come home every day from my job and say that I made a difference. And that’s huge.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/c2233c93-4711-4044-9f4e-8c898abc0da6/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects7-7.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help McCain rests before starting surgery. With more animals entering the shelter, the demand for spays has risen. Mistry said the public can help by adopting from shelters when looking for a new pet. She said people have misconceptions that shelter dogs are poorly behaved or former fighting dogs, but in reality, they are full of love and kindness. Mistry said they see the best and the worst in people at the shelter. “We see these people who come out and will adopt these animals and give them amazing loving homes, but we also see the worst in terms of people who cause intentional abuse to animals or neglect their animals and they leave their animals behind,” Mistry said. “That’s something that happens almost daily at the shelter.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/29473adb-96cd-426e-91d5-44a5ea353f41/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects9-9.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Mistry is performing laser therapy over Buddy’s incision to help reduce inflammation and swelling after his front leg was amputated the day before. Buddy was owned by a homeless person and was hit by a car six months ago, resulting in a broken leg. Mistry said there was nothing they could do for the leg since Buddy walked on it broken for six months. Laser therapy uses different wavelengths of light to help stimulate new tissue growth and promote blood vessel regeneration, which brings nutrients to the skin and therefore helps it heal. She said they only amputate if there is no other option, which usually happens once a month. Most dogs at the shelter, including Buddy, are mixed breeds. Mistry said that they have a high number of pitbull mixes, who have a bad stigma against them because of their history of dog fighting and being used as guard dogs. “It's really unfair because they get a lot of stigma and prejudice against them when the majority of them are just mixed breed little mutts who then get treated unfairly and get euthanized more frequently than other types of dogs just because of the way they look,” Mistry said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/d2d8cf60-84b7-44b3-9683-e78ac43d13d1/20241002_Kollme_Story2_Selects10-10.jpg Photo stories - A Cry for Help Claude Del Valle oversees pathway planning, managing the shelter’s available kennel space and addressing overcrowded challenges. Her team is also responsible for carrying out euthanizations, the process of ending an animal’s life through an injection. The drug, phenobarbital, is injected into their veins and stops the heart quickly and painlessly. Euthanasia due to space constraints is an issue the shelter hasn’t faced in years, until now. “I think a lot of animal shelters are dealing with issues of space,” Dr. Avnee Mistry said. “The worst thing is thinking that we may get to the point where we have healthy animals who we have to euthanize just because there's no space at the shelter for them.” She said the hardest thing for most people at the shelter is knowing that if these animals had an owner to advocate for them, they probably would not have to be euthanized. She said that pets are becoming more essential to human families, and people should consider going to their nearest shelter to adopt. “These animals just want a place to live,” Mistry said. “They just want a roof over their head, someone to give them food, and they have so much love in return for it.” https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y-453pw-wa8kb-wdyxh monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e8812938-9473-4ce6-a8c8-60e01380483b/portfolio-435.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Andrea runs outside her neighborhood in San Francisco on Sunday, June 1 to train for her company’s annual Beer Mile. She runs between a quarter mile and a mile every day and listens to a variety of music from classical, pop, reggae and jazz. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/ed86eaf7-bd26-4f67-a1e2-d7aa88fd5fcf/portfolio-436.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Andrea fills up her watering can before she gardens on Sunday, June 1. She was diagnosed with autism at the age of four. Although she showed autistic tendencies when interacting with peers, her empathy and strong eye contact made it difficult for Marge and Leo to pinpoint what was wrong. “She's very empathetic and kind,” Marge said. “A lot of the things she is, supposedly people on the spectrum are not. That's why we would always question it. It was like solving a puzzle.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/7b80105d-4873-4b64-bbee-441bbc5f634c/portfolio-437.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Marge finishes doing Andrea’s hair before she goes to work on Tuesday, June 3. When Andrea was younger, her needs were more demanding and overwhelming. She was isolated and bullied by her peers, while Marge faced harsh judgment from parents and teachers because of her daughter’s differences. Marge recalled an incident where a parent physically walked with her back to Andrea, acting as if autism were contagious. Later, one of Andrea’s elementary teachers told Marge that Andrea’s issue was that she was “spoiled.” “You have to bite your tongue a lot because you don't want to rock the boat,” Marge said. You have to listen to all this baloney just to get her a good teacher.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/e6debb0b-85a0-45d4-aaa1-0842faeaeb33/portfolio-438.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Andrea poses with Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel from “The Little Mermaid,” during a 2011 visit to Disneyland Park. Andrea and her family have been to the park more than 20 times. Marge said Disneyland was an outlet for Andrea and enabled her to get out of her shell because she grew up loving the characters. “I love Disney because I’m extremely infatuated with the voiceovers from the characters,” Andrea said. Andrea's dream is to become a voice actor. She loves children, and outside of work she records readings for a fourth grade class in Pittsburg, California, through the agency Toolworks. She previously read stories for Family House, a San Francisco nonprofit that houses families whose children are being treated at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Andrea attended the City College of San Francisco from 2008 to 2012, where she earned certificates in “Child Development: School-Age Care” and “Special Education: K-12 Focus.” Andrea had an Individual Education Plan, or IEP, from preschool through highschool. This outlined specific instructions and goals for her education. She was in “full inclusion,” meaning she was in the general classroom with other students. After she graduated high school, she switched to a Person-Centered Individual Program Plan, or IPP. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/b7ad6c30-4dc7-4f2f-8a50-e0997b9858e8/portfolio-439.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Marge embraces Andrea on Monday, June 2 before she goes to work. Marge has a 63-year-old brother, Joe, who has an intellectual disability. She said growing up with Joe taught her compassion and how to defend her family. “I think as a little girl I had to have compassion,” Marge said. “I saw a difference. And you love that person. You have a choice. We choose. I was always taught to do the right thing.” While her parents were supportive of Andrea, her disability was difficult to face because of their past experience with Joe. “My father would tell me, ‘Why don’t you read to her? Why don’t you talk to her?’ And I thought, ‘I am talking to her,’” Marge said. “It made me feel like I was a terrible parent.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/5e20c9dd-f848-4377-994e-d7b5390d55e9/portfolio-440.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Andrea waits for the metro on Tuesday, June 3. She has worked at Terreno Realty Corporation as an office clerk for almost four years. She was hired through WorkLink California, an employment service that helps place people with disabilities in jobs and provides onsite and off-site support. Sara Murphy, director and senior training associate of WorkLink, helped Andrea get her position and said she has seen her flourish. “You can see the impact on Andrea's life,” Sara said. “We’re seeing amazing growth because of employment. She's now at a point where she's ready and she's willing to take risks that she would have never, never done two years ago.” That includes taking the bus and jogging regularly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/4be70381-4c78-4618-85aa-1bfeda67578f/portfolio-441.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Andrea starts the dishwasher and organizes snacks at Terreno on Tuesday, June 3. Her job includes managing inventory for office and kitchen supplies, running the dishwasher and handling mail. She works Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “Inventory is my favorite because it gives me the zen power to figure out whenever the office is good or needs more supplies,” Andrea said. “It helps me concentrate on which items we need the most.” Marge said people should give individuals with disabilities a chance in the workplace. “Usually they will be the best workers,” she said. “They'll show up on time. They'll be very attentive to what they're doing. They take pride in little things that they can do. They're just like anybody else. They just think and act differently. And that's okay.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/458ab780-bd2b-48e4-8f41-5134d99ae5c6/portfolio-442.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Marge combs Andrea’s hair before work on Monday, June 2. Marge said she and Leo are proud of Andrea’s independence. They can now leave her home alone for errands, and she’s able to go to the store by herself. Their next goal is to take an overnight trip without her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/ea2ba7bf-9470-47d8-b1ab-d03b81b50751/portfolio-443.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Marge serves Leo and Andrea lasagna on Tuesday, June 3. They have family dinners every night and watch “The Simpsons” or “Frasier.” Marge said family feels like home, and feels like she can do anything when they are by her side. “We love her very much,” Marge said. “She loves us very much. We love each other very much, Leo and I. We all get along very well.” “She just makes everything better,” Marge said. “She lights up a room. People depend on her. She works harder than anybody.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/58ead759-d616-4ff2-8569-f2c7a90e6da9/portfolio-444.jpg Photo stories - Andrea's Light Andrea washes her face before bed on Tuesday, June 3. She said Andrea’s growth is a success story in itself. “She was always a success. There are good parts of it, there are bad parts, but look at what she can do.” Marge said that Andrea taught her that everybody has something about them that isn’t perfect. “Nothing is perfect,” she said. “And you learn very quickly when you have children that life isn't that way. But when you have a child with special needs, you really learn that. And I feel that it's just a success story. She gets people to love her. She lights up a room. She makes everything better. She turns it into gold.” https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y-453pw-wa8kb-wdyxh-d86e4 monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/6d09c055-5e37-453e-9d1a-1ebadcbc9a3f/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-1.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory The Durham Academy varsity girls field hockey team huddles together before they play Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh, North Carolina, beating them four to one. The team’s goal for the 2024 season was to build a culture that was based on consistency, independence and accountability, and to have a better record than the previous years. “The team fought really well and knew they were trying to accomplish a goal and build a culture themselves,” Supica said. “They took a lot of autonomy and independence to create the culture they wanted to have and sustain it throughout the season.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/226988ed-2ab5-4683-af2f-54781a818f4b/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-2.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Freshman Kate Holladay stretches her leg with a resistance band during weight training. The team went to the weight room two to three times a week for thirty minutes after practice. They worked on speed, agility and strength. In the preseason, the team scrimmaged against Cary Academy and lost eight to zero. Supica said everyone was “shook” and was not expecting such a brutal loss to kick off the season. “We were all like, ‘Whoa, this is not how we projected our season to go,’’ Supica said. “And so we bought in after that game and really clicked during our first regular season game against them,” she said. “We took them into double overtime and shootouts, and I think that was the moment where the girls realized the work they had been putting in paid off and that they could be as successful as they wanted to be if they were willing to push those limits.” They lost two to one in the second game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/982d6d2b-c91c-4f0e-858d-3d37d4525759/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-3.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Logan Freedman (left) and Caroline Kantz (right) get ready for practice by putting on their shin guards. When they did not have a game, the team practiced five days a week. The girls get the first five minutes of practice to work on their own skills, and the rest of the hour and a half is dedicated to working on different game tactics such as attack, defense or pressing, and end with scrimmage. Supica said they scrimmage almost every day. “We scrimmage so we can work on the different skills that we are trying to improve throughout the season,” Supica said. “A lot of that for us was just focusing on how to identify simple passes, how to identify numbers in situations and how to identify how to attack on the front foot.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/978e5f0b-4b7e-4843-ad52-949a2d2eb8f7/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-4.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory The team high-fives Maya Patel as she runs onto the field after her name is announced. With players spanning all grade levels, their bond is evident both on and off the field as they wholeheartedly support each other. Supica said she wanted the team to find joy in the sport, not just focus on the competitive aspect. “A lot of people look at our team and recognize that we have a lot of fun,” Supica said. “We enjoyed hanging out with each other and being around each other’s presence. But we also knew how to be serious, and that’s not always easy at the high school level.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/86d414d0-837f-487a-b6f2-ecade20729e7/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-5.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Vera Ruth fights for the ball against Saint Mary’s School, the last game of the regular season. The team made it to the second round of playoffs before losing three to zero to Charlotte Latin. The team had not gotten that far in three years. Supica said she saw major improvement from the first game to the last. “We played some really great hockey and had some really great scoring opportunities,” she said. We played them earlier in the season and had lost four to one and had not gotten a single corner and a single shot off. For this game, we got multiple corner opportunities and only gave up a few corners. There were so many things that made it really full circle moment of, ‘look how far we've come.’” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/d27cc1d9-057d-4c05-96fb-79311d792e2b/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Outtakes-1.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Siena Hurley braids Ali Vaccaro’s hair on the bus on the way to Saint Mary’s School. Before each game, the team captains lead stretches and warm-ups. The team chants a pregame hype song about the Cavaliers, Durham Academy's mascot. They also wear matching ribbons in their hair during each game, which has been a Durham Academy field hockey tradition for a long time. The girls rotate who decides the ribbon color for each game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/ee90a778-1c10-4479-9419-139101e99f8e/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-7.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory The team eats Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt together to strengthen their bond beyond the field. Supica said some of her favorite memories from this season come from these off-field moments spent together. “I’m a very person-centered relationship focused coach, so being able to see them outside of field hockey is really important so they also know that I’m human and that I make mistakes and I’m not just who I show up as at practice,” Supica said. “It was so fun to just sit there and hear about their days, and that was a big moment where I felt like they really trusted me and respected what we were trying to build.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/1b4b8478-5eb0-42a3-84d0-26e1f08a217b/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-8.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory The team practices a corner, which is a play that occurs when there is a foul inside the circle by the defensive team. At certain practices, Supica surprised the players with spontaneous team bonding days instead of refining plays and drills. “We did fun activities like filling a cup with water and carrying it on your stick to see how much water the team has at the end,” she said. “We did a few of those, a few team dinners and during some rainy practices we just met in the gym and hung out for 20 minutes. I got really lucky and had a great group. I always tell people that I have really good people, really kind people, and also really competitive people on the team.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/40f311c8-c8f6-486e-be19-db225d0a36c4/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-9.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Fans and families watch the field hockey team play against Cary Academy. “We had a good parent following, which was awesome,” Supica said. “It made us feel really supported. Our crew grew throughout the season, and our parents were always at the game. One of our kids’ grandma came to every game.” Supica said she was drawn to Durham Academy because of the strong community it fosters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/4e66eec3-9e0c-4d1d-875b-12959f7f233e/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-10.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Durham Acadmey’s athletic trainer Anna Sunday stretches Siena Hurley’s thigh after practice. Supica said the most common injury in field hockey for the team is ankle injuries because they play on grass. Since starting the strength and conditioning training, there have been less injuries on the field. Supica comes from college coaching and had high expectations for the team. “I challenged them every day and asked them to be 1% better than they were that morning or 1% better than they were in the last drill,” she said. “They really bought into that and bought into the high expectations, and tried to make each other better. It blew me away.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/bd65f5ea-efbd-42c8-b528-b096337d3fd8/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-11.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Supica rallies the team before their game against Jordan High School. Supica said she coaches because she wants to create more opportunities where women can be led by women and due to the impact her previous coaches have had on her. “There's not enough positive women role models, especially in sports,” she said. “I'm still really close with coaches that coached me when I was younger, and I remember these women and how much they’ve impacted my life. If I can give back in the smallest amount by coaching and being able to impact someone’s day in a positive way, then that’s enough for me.” Supica applies this philosophy to her coaching style by attempting to understand each individual player and recognize that they are all their own, different people. She said she always asks them lots of questions about how their day was and ways she can support them. “Coaching is so much bigger than you, it’s so much more about the joy you can bring to people and if people know that you care about them, then that could change an entire moment for someone,” she said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/3c77d40c-fc8e-4582-9926-9b2d14b239dc/20241113_TEAM_FINAL_Kollme_Selects-12.jpg Photo stories - Reclaiming Victory Logan Freedman (left) hugs Mae Sauer (right) after Mae scored a goal against Saint Mary’s School. Supica said the success from this season makes her proud and excited for the future. “It makes me think a lot about the future and the ability to continue to create a consistent culture and a consistent team,” she said. “We have a lot of room for growth, and we’re just building something that is going to be really exciting over the next few years.” https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y-453pw-wa8kb-wdyxh-d86e4-3fe9d monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/1d45342a-cec8-437b-a29c-4ad50ff62384/20241016_Kollme_Story3-1.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging Paul Burgess is the senior pastor at University Baptist Church (UBC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He studied Spanish and interpersonal communications at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill before earning his master’s degree from Campbell University’s Divinity School in 2011. In 2019, he got his Doctor of Ministry from Campbell. He has pastored at three churches in his career. Burgess said his job enables him to serve students and the public, offering a welcoming environment for those who have felt unwelcomed elsewhere. As a UNC-Chapel Hill alumni, Burgess said he can relate to current students and strives to offer them faith insights that he may have needed at that age. Burgess sits at his desk before the sermon begins. He said he has always felt called towards church ministry. “I’d always felt a tug toward ministry,” Burgess said. “Ever since I was about 20, which I now realize is half my life, I felt comfortable in the church arena.” He began preaching at UBC in 2022. He said the church has allowed him to be his most authentic self and thrive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/85479bdb-485c-4aac-a181-472cc50998fa/20241016_Kollme_Story3-2.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging Burgess prays with a child from Bible study before the sermon begins. “Religion is the lens through which I think about everything,” he said. He values faith because it gives him discipline by tethering himself to the person and example of Jesus. He said he becomes more amazed at the person of Jesus every day. Burgess has obsessive-compulsive disorder, which causes him to constantly meditate on Jesus’ teachings and imagine his response. “It’s not like I imagine Him with me as a task master or scary, authoritarian teacher or anything like that,” he said. “It’s more like a gentle presence, reminding me in every situation of the more loving, life-giving route I could take. And more often than not, I choose that route, because I’ve experienced that it leads to better, fuller things than following impulses that aren’t present in the Way of Jesus, like fear, revenge and anxiety.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/8241689a-560d-4591-8eca-0200c02dbce2/20241016_Kollme_Story3-3.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging The Jesus action figure was a gift from his sister, and he said it demonstrates a sense of humor that reflects the way he tries to engage with life. Burgess said it shows that while faith is serious, it can get a “little silly” when it falls into human hands due to certain faults of institutionalized religion. He added the finger puppets because it looked fun but also because it shows how Jesus’ hands are big enough to help everyone. “Jesus’ ‘hands’ are probably a lot bigger than we often consider,” he said. “We think He only holds, hugs and helps people like us, but his hands are really big enough that there’s space for everyone.” Burgess has been collecting action figures and souvenirs his whole life, and they are scattered around his office. He said everything in his office has meaning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/4123c31d-69de-4864-b437-47fed3dd7580/20241016_Kollme_Story3-4.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging Burgess gives his sermon on Sunday, Oct. 6. He said he usually puts eight to 10 hours into each sermon, which he writes over the course of the week. While some pastors write their sermons well in advance, he prefers to see how he is feeling that week. He tries to incorporate humor into his sermons and draws inspiration from current events, tailoring his messages to relevant issues. “My standard is, I look out ahead of time and say, ‘Okay I think this will be the scripture for this week,’ and then when we get closer to the date, I start to flesh it out a little bit more,” Burgess said. He said his sermon style bounces around stylistically from week to week and that creativity, unpredictability, vulnerability and authenticity are important to him when he preaches. “I think it’s important for people to see a real person in the pulpit, not some pious, polished facade that is removed from actual life and the actual questions and struggles people have,” he said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/c0a34c60-af17-4836-b78f-277ab7febdf3/20241016_Kollme_Story3-5.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging A University Baptist Church member listens to Burgess preach. He said religion does all sorts of things for people, as it can be helpful and hopeful but also hurtful. “One of the things that concerns me most right now is how people—particularly politicians—use religion as a means to amass power,” he said. “Christian nationalism is one of the most concerning threats our country faces. It gives people a cover to nurse their worst instincts because they can hold a cross while they spread lies and attack democracy.” Religion has also burned people in the past. Burgess said he thinks about the many marginalized people who want nothing to do with the church because of how poorly Christians treated them. He said he strives to include everyone, and that LGBTQ+ inclusion is also very important to him. “I’m not going to be able to be my authentic self if I can’t just say, ‘Whoever you are, if you want to seek God together, then you are welcome,” he said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/ce7a5e16-0ccc-44fb-8b51-dd2426e169e0/20241016_Kollme_Story3-6.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging Burgess celebrates World Communion Sunday with a UBC member by serving bread and wine to remember Jesus’ sacrifice during the service. The bread represents Jesus’ body, and the wine his blood. “When we do that as people trying to live in His name and His example, we remember Him and honor Him and come together,” he said. “I feel like we’re so quick to dehumanize other people based on our differences these days, and that’s antithetical to the spirit of communion.” Burgess said communion is one of the most beautiful things the church can do because it forces people to confess that they need something outside of themselves to thrive, which helps people come together. “I love that Jesus chose that because if we can all come together, even from different places, then that’s starting us off on pretty good ground for talking to each other and listening and hearing one another,” he said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/11ea02d6-e289-4346-af0c-684b40b26ffd/20241016_Kollme_Story3-7.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging Burgess unloads the dishwasher at his home after returning from coaching soccer practice for Parrish. Burgess said he strives to be a real person each day rather than trying to be Jesus. “I don’t try to be Jesus, but I try to be the best version of myself, and I think adopting the habits and behaviors of Jesus leads me to that person,” he said. “I prioritize things like love above all, listening, patience, gentleness, kindness and peacemaking. I never get it all right, of course. But I can say for certain that I’ve found a better life than I would have had if I didn’t navigate my life this way.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/938af711-78a0-4cd4-bce7-b9e506dc46ee/20241016_Kollme_Story3-8.jpg Photo stories - A Rebirth of Belonging Burgess eats dinner with his wife Liza, his two sons Sawyer and Parrish and their new puppy, Opal. He said he weaves faith into his family and the lives of his children by exposing them to regular church involvement, praying together and often talking about Jesus. “For instance, when faced with frustration or difficult choices, we talk about how Jesus’ example can help us find a good and loving response,” he said. “Our style for this isn’t rigid, but more fluid and in the moment. We could probably stand to have a little more structure to it, but it works well for us.” He said his family means everything to him and that their health and well-being are his top priority in life. He is always mindful to never be more attentive to the church or work than he is to his family. “I try to hold firm boundaries that demonstrate to our family that they're the priority,” he said. “Unless it’s an emergency, I do almost no church-related tasks on Fridays and Saturdays. These are sacred days for me in that way.” https://www.elliekollme.com/photo-stories/project-one-f5w4d-z9nem-s3jda-eyssk-a6prr-7gk4y-453pw-wa8kb-wdyxh-d86e4-3fe9d-brptf monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/781356c7-fb73-4c5b-b1f4-4f42777a22ea/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-1.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue organizes her supplies each morning before students arrive, preparing to meet their diverse needs. She has created a bright, welcoming office that serves as a safe space for students. Over her 11 years at McDougle, she has maintained an open-door policy, encouraging students to stop by even when they aren’t sick. “I tell people, ‘don’t feel like you have to be sick to come down here,’” she said. “I try to help everybody succeed in school and do whatever I can to make everybody feel happy.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/1766026325843-JB4T1QIP1Q05JUAMQ3IK/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-2.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue wears silly hats each day to lift students’ spirits and make mornings at McDougle Elementary more exciting. She began collecting hats in her second year and now owns more than 31. After noticing students were reluctant during morning carpool, she started wearing fun hats and organizing activities to make drop-off more enjoyable. “It shows that we're really silly, and life is silly, and we're happy here, and there's no need to be nervous or scared,” she said. “It makes them happy, and they laugh, and they giggle." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/04961f81-c887-41c4-b02a-75f0ce9f5af3/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-3.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue cleans a student’s bloody knee after he tripped on the way to class. Last year, she averaged about 10 to 11 patients a day and does not take an hour-long lunch, as she must remain available at all times. She said the responsibility at McDougle is intense and comes with significant pressure. “My very first year, I couldn't eat or drink or sleep, and I lost all this weight, because I was sitting here going, ‘okay, how would I get to a classroom where I didn't know the lay of the land?’ I had to learn everything," she said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/b074b4ee-0b7b-4495-b6b9-df117a70c6dd/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-4.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue escorts a student to receive a meal through the school’s free and reduced-price breakfast program, which many students at McDougle Elementary rely on. She also created a Monday morning “breakfast bunch” to support students from divorced homes, offering a space to rest. “Over the weekend, certain kids have different rules and different bedtimes so it's just good to come in and have a check-in and say ‘hey, let's reset for the week,’" she said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/8c5c6e1e-e16a-484e-a9e5-2348466970da/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-5.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue bandages a student’s knee after he says it hurts to walk, often using placebo techniques to help students feel better. She deals with anxiety and other psychological issues more than first aid and meets weekly with the school social worker and psychologist to support students needing extra care. Together, they use strategies like giving students clipboards and paper to express their feelings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/7bbc2aab-b1e1-4a10-90f0-82704588ee5c/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-6.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue checks her emails while wearing her shark hat, regularly communicating with parents about medications, vaccines, allergies and overall student health. Minogue is from Stratford, Canada and earned her nursing degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1986. She worked as a travel nurse in Boston, New York and Galveston, Texas. She received her Advanced Nursing Degree at Duke University School of Nursing in 1988. She worked in the field of intensive care for 25 years. In 2013, she transitioned to school nursing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/626f47d8-66cc-4e70-99c8-2d5b1ec86e6d/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-7.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary A student prepares to take his medication before lunch. Many students at McDougle Elementary rely on daily medications, including those with allergies, asthma, migraines and celiac disease. The school also has the highest number of exceptional children in the district, requiring additional social and emotional support. Minogue, a mother of four with a son on the autism spectrum, draws on her personal experience to support students with special needs. She said spending time with exceptional children helps students understand that everyone is different. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69433326b1028e2d624bac53/b3abc4a3-97c2-428e-9b9e-f8503192d891/20240911_Kollme_Story1_SELECTS-8.jpg Photo stories - The Heart of McDougle Elementary Minogue visits fifth graders during recess. She loves their energy and uniqueness and encourages them to believe they can achieve anything. Minogue said she feels like the school mom, giving students love and attention they may not get at home. “Children are here, and they didn't ask to be here but were brought into the world,” she said. “You need to love and adore them even when things are going wrong. They are really smart, smart little beings and they're fun and they're happy and they've got great spirits and they just need to be loved.”