Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Shannon Apgar. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Shannon Apgar has spent her Thursday evenings over the past year at Covenant House Alaska, where anywhere from five to 15 young people gather each week to cook something they can eat, enjoy, and learn to make on their own. With a background in public health, Shannon designed her cooking class to build the confidence and independent-living skills that help youth experiencing homelessness thrive.
Shannon turns simple, approachable meals like breakfast casserole, fried rice, and taco salad into lessons that the young people can take with them for years to come. She also opens the art room as a safe creative space for drawing, painting, and fiber arts, and meets youth wherever they are, whether that’s a room full of energy or one person who simply wants quiet company.
Across more than 100 hours, Shannon has built meaningful connections with over 50 young people. These relationships, she says, have become the most rewarding part of her work. She’s quick to redirect the credit, describing the resilience and patience of the youth as her own source of inspiration. Shannon believes that when we look around your community and find something that bothers you, you’ll know exactly where to start in your volunteer efforts.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Shannon? Find local volunteer opportunities.