Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Eliana Galgoci. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Born to a family of volunteers, Eliana Galgoci started helping others at a very young age. Participating was built into the culture around her. It was only natural that she eventually wanted to expand that culture to include her peers. So, last November, at 14 years old, Eliana started NextGen Kindness Foundation, establishing clubs at both her local high school and middle school.
Her goal was—and is—to engage her peers in helping other young people. In short, she creates opportunities for kids to help kids and foster a culture of volunteering. Each month, after discussing community needs with local schools and nonprofit leaders, Eliana organizes a donation drive to benefit young people. The organization has collected and distributed over $20,000 worth of clothing and donated $10,000 in funds among other things. Eliana averages 20 hours each week in her role alongside 65+ volunteers, and will join the board of directors when she turns 16 in December.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I started volunteering when I was four years old, making blankets for children in local hospitals. My mom was part of the Junior League for a very long time. My experience and watching her help so many people inspired me to do more and involve my peers as well. Volunteering runs in my family. My Grandma Dee and Papa Wendell both volunteered as EMS drivers and delivered Meals on Wheels for decades.
I believe it’s important to start getting involved at an early age and to have school programs that support empathy and teamwork to help the community. It should be normalized. We’re so much stronger when we’re united in working toward a common goal: to help each other.
Tell us about your volunteer role with NextGen Kindness Foundation.
I’m the Co-Founder of NextGen Kindness, and I manage the club at my high school. During the school year and through the summer, we come up with one thing to do every month—usually drives. We’ve done the Dignity Project, collecting hygiene care and personal items. We’ve gathered back-to-school support for local schools. And in the winter, we’ve collected winter coats and blankets for children. We’ve also done Letters of Love, writing letters to people in the hospital.
We meet twice a month to come up with ideas, and I reach out to local schools and nonprofits to discern what people in our community need at that moment. I also design social media campaigns and solicit donations to fund our initiatives. We receive funding from family and friends, local businesses, auction item donations, and local grants.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
I would love to see NextGen Kindness clubs in different schools from elementary- through college-level. I want to open chapters all over the country and beyond. I truly believe that if we give youth the tools and motivation to support their peers, we can create a global network of empathy.
How has it affected your peers who volunteer?
I see a lot more people my age helping each other out, as well as helping those younger than them. I think doing these projects with us has started a ripple effect. I’m seeing a lot more people interested.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I love seeing acts of giving firsthand through our drives, but nothing compares to the feeling of knowing that our work can help people with their everyday lives. When we hand a peer a winter coat or make sure a middle schooler has the exact supplies they need for class, we can see the immediate relief on their face. It reminds me of exactly why we started NextGen Kindness.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
When we work together and share a passion for helping people, the possibilities are endless. You realize very quickly that you can help so many more people as a team than you could ever help alone. I’ve also learned that kindness has a massive ripple effect, like I said before. You don’t have to change the whole world by yourself. You can spark passion in others, and together, you can grow the impact.
Tell us about future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about.
I’m looking forward to the back-to-school drive that we’re doing. We’re helping the middle and high school with school supplies, because while there’s a lot of help with the elementary school, there are not a lot of people who donate things like backpacks, pencils, binders, and folders for older students. And the older you get, the more expensive supplies are. It’s important to help kids my age with that.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Not only are you helping someone else, but it can be good for your mental health. It can relieve stress and make you happier and feel needed.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Try a few different organizations—animal shelters, food banks, environmental organizations—before you commit to one. See what speaks to you. When you find the one you feel most connected to, volunteering won’t feel like work. It’ll be something you can’t wait to do.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
You’re never too young to volunteer. Helping people is important. A lot of people in high school volunteer for credits or hours, and I think it’s more important for kids to realize that even though you might not be changing the whole world, you’re helping someone, and that’s far more important.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Eliana? Find local volunteer opportunities.