Karen Chambers has spent her life giving back. From her early years volunteering at church—rocking babies in the nursery, serving teens, packing food for shelters, and handing out groceries at a local pantry—Karen always sought out ways to meet people’s needs. “Volunteering stretches you,” she shared in a recent Doing Good podcast interview. “It pulls you outside of your own life and lets you walk alongside someone else.”
That heart for service took a deeply personal turn 42 years ago when Karen experienced a miscarriage. At the time, she didn’t know anyone else who had been through it. There was no community, no comfort. The grief was isolating. But in that silence, the seed for something meaningful was planted.
Years later, Karen channeled her empathy into action by founding Bearing Others Burdens, a faith-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides comfort bags to those facing cancer treatment, miscarriage, infant loss, and bereavement. What started as a simple idea to send out 15 bags has now grown into more than 2,500 care packages distributed across all 50 states.
The bags are full of thoughtful items—a blanket, tea, a journal, coloring books, socks, and more—meant to bring warmth, distraction, and peace. For bereaved parents, the bags often include a personalized memory square and a blanket embroidered with their child’s name. “You can’t take someone’s burden away,” Karen explains, “but you can show them they’re seen and loved.”
Even now, Karen’s spirit of volunteerism hasn’t changed. She continues to sew, pack, and deliver bags alongside her family and a small team of dedicated volunteers. Her church community also supports the mission through packing events and item donations.
Karen’s faith quietly anchors her work. She doesn’t try to fix anyone’s pain—just to stand with them in it. “Grief shows up differently for everyone,” she says. “Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is just be there.”
From church nurseries to nonprofit leadership, Karen’s volunteer journey is a testament to how a lifetime of quiet service can lead to a lasting impact.
To learn more about Karen’s story or to support her work, visit bearingothersburdens.com.
Click here to listen to this episode of the Doing Good podcast.
Doing Good is a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv