Sharon Metzger - May 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

There is a quest in life to find the diamonds that cut through the hardened layers of questioning and hardship that moments may present. Through the constant excavation and pressure of life’s lessons, the raw coal of passion becomes complex purpose. Passion may be the fire, but the diamonds of purpose is what holds it. There is no stopping someone who not only is filled with passion but also purpose. It is the inherent fact that purpse will keep them in a place of constant inspirational championing for what they believe in. Even the smallest of diamonds can take a slimmer of light and reflect a vision of hope that can illuminate something bigger than itself.

Sharon Metzger has discovered her purpose within her passion and has become a diamond herself, carrying that hope that illuminates something bigger than herself. Rooted in the belief in community, connectivity, and a vision for making a difference; Metzger’s path has lead her to Huntington, Indiana.

Originally from Ohio, Metzger moved to Huntington for college and never left, showing that home can truly be where the heart is.

“I grew up in Northwest Ohio and came to Huntington University in 2006, expected to move back to Ohio, and instead found a community that my husband and I fell in love with. We just kept finding reasons to stay. It was either church, jobs, or friends. That reason would kind of change over time, but there was always something that kept us here. We've lived in Huntington for 20 years this year, which is crazy to really think about.”

Metzger is a wife, mother, and the director of Huntington Main Street; her purpose melds into many avenues in her life but through it all she has brought forward connection. Believing that her love for non-profit work steamed from her childhood, Metzger says,

“I was an extrovert out in the middle of the country, the town where we went to school had a total of 1.700 people. It was really hard to feel connected until I had my divers license. It’s funny to think that Huntington feels big to me, but it is perfect for me.

I think that growing up in the church, not just growing up in church, but also growing up with my parents, they were very generous people. I think that fed into the choices I've made career wise later in life. I definitely attribute generosity to my parents. They had a servants heart, usually during the holidays, there'd be someone sitting at the table that I barely knew because they wanted to make sure that people had a place to go for Christmas or for Thanksgiving.

I think non-profit work drew me because of the kind of the things that they instilled in me. “

With a servants heart instilled in her at an early age and unmotivated by money, Metzger, unaware of what exactly she wanted to in life, soon found her self drawn to any kind of work that would give back and serve this new found community.

It was through a her first church community in Huntington called the “509 Community”, she discovered another layer to the impact that community, hospitality, and connection can really make.

“It doesn’t exist anymore, which is sad, but it was a small group that really opened my eyes to the idea of how as individually we all have gifts but when we come together we create something stronger. I look back on that time as a precious time for me. It was a lot of young people just trying to figure out what does church look like for us now? And it was messy, chaotic, beautiful, fun, and all of those things. The point is, we were all there for each other, that is community.”

Metzger may not have known it at the time but looking back now she explains how it has played a big role how she see her work now.

“It taught me to see how each person can become a part of the whole. In my job, I'm one person with the board of directors, who are wonderful, and then we're just a ton of volunteers. And I love meeting someone, getting to know them, and then thinking about the part they will be able to fill. It may start with maybe a really tiny part because they want to just try it for the first time, or maybe they're gonna get really involved. Either way, I love making connections for people as well.”

The lessons she has implemented has gone beyond just her career in nonprofits. She is who she says she is, a person who lives a life of community within the walls of her home.

“We can be facilitators of community. Having people gather for gatherings, that's wonderful. It is unexplainable, it is just magic!”

Metzger found a place to become a facilitator for community when she began working as the director of “Place of Grace.”, a non for profit woman’s recovery home, where she spent 4 years making a difference in a special way.

During that time, Metzger had her second child, a joyous time but soon saddened by her mother’s fight with cancer, beaconing a shift in Metzger.

“It was a two year process and she ended up dying during that time. I think losing a parent shifts something monumentally for people, it did for me.

If you've ever heard people talk about how you kind of grow around your grief, that is certainly true for me. The grief has always, and it will always be there. That doesn't go away, but I kind of shifted around that. During that time, I felt a shift happening where I could tell it was my time to leave. Not because I didn't believe in the organization or the women's home, I will champion and cheer them on forever, I could just feel a shift in my time there ending. I didn’t know why exactly at the time but I could just tell I was being called to something else.”

Metzger and her husband decided to take a leap of faith and start their won bakery in Huntington. Though it may seem out of the blue, there is a genuine and raw reason for this decision.

“When my mother died, she left that hole for my children, nieces, and nephews where she would make their birthday cakes. I knew somebody had step into her shoes and I kind of used it as a way to work through my grief.”

It was a 4 year season of building and soon they decided it was time to sell the business, as always she knew it was time to move on. Metzger was able to sell it to “Place Of Grace”, making it a full circle moment and a continuation of her legacy with a nonprofit organization that she loved.

“Place of Grace had just started this gourmet popcorn company under a nonprofit where it would help with job readiness for their women. I had this crazy idea that maybe they might want to buy the bakery and so I called them. They were literally about to sign the lease on another building that day but they held off to come and look at the bakery. I have chill bumps just thinking about it because what are the odds? But they ended up buying our bakery!”

Through twist and turns, grief and joy, Metzger has kept her purpose close to heart. Over and over she proving how pressure makes diamonds and with grace, humor, and grit; she has reflected hope into a place she loves, Huntington. Now able to continue on her work with the community, she has be working hard to bring good and enriching connections to Main Street that have radiated beyond the street signs and blocks of downtown Huntington. With Huntington Main Street’s mission to develop an attractive downtown that will be the desired destination of Huntington to live, shop, work, and play. Their vision is a vibrant downtown district that is welcoming to all and unique to Huntington. Sharon Metzger purpose is not only making a true difference but inspiring others to do the same.Thank you Sharon for being dedicated to serving people and facilitating community.

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Thank you Sharon for sharing your story and your purpose with me on my podcast. You are a true inspiration and I believe you are making such an impact! It was an honor to sit at the table with you!

Grab your cup of coffee and enjoy this heartfelt and purposeful episode with Sharon Metzger!

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UtvkeZiU4ef6dChcbve98?si=LY-0ZYB3S9KVw2xDA00zmg

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/ALFJPqENNGs

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