Kenda Horst has lived and worked in San Francisco for twenty plus years. She grew up in central Illinois, the youngest of three children. Her family lived in the country on twenty acres of timber. Kenda first started to love cooking as a child. Partly because she was the youngest, cooking dinner became her “job” in the household. When she was in middle school and in high school, she also took care of neighbor children. She would get off the bus with them twice a week, so their parents could meet their evening schedule commitments. In addition, Kenda worked away from home at summer camp, from 1986 through 1994. She started as the camp sitter for the children of staff. Over the following years, her roles and responsibilities expanded, as she worked as a counselor, art director, and on the kitchen staff.
She moved to San Francisco to be a live-in Nanny in 1993. She fell in love with her work and then with the City. During that first year of being a Nanny, Kenda finally understood what her parents had given her as she was growing up: a loving home, a happy family life, and opportunities to grow and be challenged. Over the years, Kenda has discovered the great joy she finds in being with children and in watching their pure delight in life.
In addition to working with children, Kenda enjoys using her skills to help keep a family running smoothly in their day-to-day activities. Kenda likes to help the children she cares for to have time to explore their world and to grow in a safe, happy, and healthy way.
Outside of work, Kenda volunteers with PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender persons) as the Treasurer and as a Board Member of the local chapter. In addition, Kenda serves on several committees at First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, her home congregation. Kenda finds rich rewards in giving back to the communities that she is a part of.