CLEARWATER, Fla. — For Kelvin Rackard, the Clearwater campus of H.E.P. — Homeless Empowerment Program — is home.

If you visit, there's a pretty good chance you'll find him in the kitchen, where he's volunteered for years.

H.E.P. provides meals, housing, and other supportive services to individuals and veterans.

Rackard is always busy, and this past year was the recipient of the organization's 2018 Volunteer Project Pride Award.

One other thing: Rackard is deaf.

With help from sign language interpreter Tyrae Howard, Rackard told us a bit about his days at H.E.P.

"I usually work all throughout the day," he said. "I enjoy working a lot. I really enjoy it."

Those who work with Rackard have developed their own homemade sign language, and it certainly appears he's loved.

Marketing manager Rebecca Adams met Rackard 18 years ago.

"It's been a very long relationship of watching Kelvin throughout the campus spread joy," Adams told us. "You can not just smile when you're with him. He's one of our secret gems here on campus."