Food Bank Volunteer Defies Traditional Norms of Who Can Serve
Every week, Dustin Freeman serves others “across differences,” upending the traditional roles of “service recipient” and “volunteer” at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. Even though he, himself, needs to be accompanied by a care giver, Dustin has been volunteering at the food bank since he was 12-years-old, a decade after suffering from severe brain trauma as a toddler. Seventeen years later, he’s still going strong, learning new skills to make the operations in their Salvage Sorting rooms even more efficient.
Serving with an infectious joy, volunteering each Wednesday and Thursday is clearly the highlight of Dustin’s week. Sporting one of his many Second Harvest t-shirts, he walks the halls on the way to his shift, greeting staff members by name—after all, they’ve watched him grow up, and, in turn, he sees the rest of the Second Harvest team as a second family. Despite his cognitive disabilities, he’s eager and able to train new volunteers who come to work in the Salvage Sorting area, again demonstrating that those who might traditionally be seen as the recipients of service, can, instead, serve to help others in multiple different ways.
North Carolina Woman Finds Homes for Abandoned and Special Needs Pets
They say that a dog is man’s best friend. This is true for Erin Turner and she goes to great lengths to ensure that man’s best friend has a loving home. She is the founder, president, manager, and visionary of Stepping Stones Canine Rescue, an organization uniquely successful in placing abandoned, stray and special needs dogs in homes appropriate for them and their adopted families. The key to Erin’s success is spending countless hours assessing the dogs and visiting homes of potential adopters to facilitate the perfect match, which increases the likelihood of finding forever homes for the dogs and minimizes stress for both the dogs and families. Through Stepping Stones Canine Rescues, Erin and her team not only help hundreds of dogs each year, but educate potential adopters and the community regarding proper canine care, working with many community organizations and businesses to increase awareness about canine rescue and raise funds to care for dogs in need.
At Michigan Retirement Community, Volunteer Records Memories to Last
As Gwen Joseph revisited hours and hours of family memories – Christmas Eves spent with her extended family celebrating their Swedish traditions with performances, a family choir and food – the familiar sounds of joy brought her back to those moments, captured by her grandfather, who would hit record on the tape player at the start of the night and let the tape roll.
She discovered this trove of recorded family tapes while clearing out her parent’s home, after losing them both in 2012. “It meant so much to not just remember the stories of my childhood, but to hear their voices. I thought, ‘this is something everybody should have the chance to have.’”
Just as these tapes were valued by her family, Gwen realized that recorded memories could be meaningful for others as well. In a time when photo albums gather dust and many memories simply live on our smartphones and hard drives, she became a digital archivist, creating the ultimate gift for those who don’t have much time left.
Working with the Liz Vachon, the volunteer coordinator at Canterbury-on-the-Lake retirement community in Waterford, Michigan, Gwen began to put her idea into play by recruiting residents, all “fabulous and fascinating” she said, who were interested in sharing their life stories.
According to Liz, Gwen has a gift for eliciting incredible stories from the residents for their memoirs, often long-forgotten.
“Gwen is the new journal or diary. She knows what questions to ask to further their discussion on whatever memories they remember, or to even help them remember different things in their lives that they might not have ever shared with anyone,” said Liz. “She digs deep to get people to tell their stories. Recording that family history for posterity is so cool … a great-great-grandchild could hear this story one day. So invaluable to the families.”
A self-described “career volunteer,” Gwen had to do a deep dive into technology to learn how to compile edited CDs for the residents, something she’d never done before. She spends up to 8 hours interviewing each resident, then as many as 40 hours editing just one CD. While time intensive, Gwen said the effort is fulfilling.
“It’s a passion,” she said. “I was raised to believe it has to take a community. You have to be involved, you have to help however you can.”
Gwen, a former educator and reading specialist, said being involved was a family tradition – the value of volunteerism instilled in her by her mother and father.
“I like people and I love the feeling you get,” Gwen said of volunteering. “You don’t do this kind of stuff for rewards – the emotional payback is worth a million rewards. I do it, and I think most people spend a lot of time [helping others], because you know you’re making a difference.”
Gwen’s work of archiving family history is a lost art, according to Liz – one that helps many residents at Canterbury, including those who are suffering from various forms of dementia. Liz said that Gwen has interviewed about 10 residents so far, with a growing list of residents to work with this summer.
What continues to feed Gwen’s passion? The unexpected moments with the residents.
Listening to one resident tell her story, Gwen commented, “that’s just fascinating.” Each time, the resident would respond, “it’s everyday life.” Gwen believes this project helps the seniors see how wonderful they are, and how amazing their stories are: “They get excited about [a memory], they smile. They’ll literally say, ‘I haven’t thought about that in years!’ They’ll say ‘what a wonderful memory that is.’”
To find volunteer opportunities in your area, search All for Good.
Texas Woman Finds Purpose in Mentoring Middle Schoolers and Working to End Human Trafficking
After experiencing bullying as a child, Cassie Holloway decided to give back to her community as an adult by becoming a mentor for middle school girls. She also dedicates much of her time to helping combat human trafficking in the Houston, Texas, area as a volunteer for Rescue Houston and Raising Elijah. Cassie spoke with Points of Light about her service story and how her faith has led her to help others.
Can you describe your current volunteer role as a mentor?
Once a week, I meet with about 8 to 12 middle school girls in a group setting. While we mostly talk about the topics given to us weekly from the sermon we listen to, there are always “tough” questions they ask that I have help them solve. For instance, I’ve been asked, “I see this girl all the time, but she is never with someone and eats lunch by herself. How can I become friends with her?” Or, “One of my friends is suicidal, what do I do?”
Working with children in middle school is one of the most difficult yet rewarding things I do. Sometimes, I meet with them individually to talk about personal issues they are having in their home or school.
One of my favorite things I do is go on mission trips with them and watch them do heavy labor and spread love to strangers all on lack of sleep with constant smiles on their faces. I have been to Houston and Glorieta, New Mexico with them. Their joy brings me joy.
Why do you think it’s important for people to give back?
I think it is important for people to give back because it’s what humanity is all about. By strengthening our communities, there is a sense of unity that overflows over us. We have the ability to learn new skills and share our expertise all while making an impact to someone’s life. I firmly believe that if you “live here you give here.” Living with the willingness to work for the betterment of others is something everyone should strive to do.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your volunteer work?
No matter whom I am working with or what I am doing, I love to see change. Whether it’s a change of heart or a change of feeling helpless to helped, making a difference in other people’s lives is something I cherish. I love seeing my middle school girls grow between sixth and eighth grade and how they have grown in maturity.
One big highlight for me when working with Rescue Houston, was when I was doing the phone bank ministry, and I called a woman who immediately needed help. She asked me how to file a domestic abuse report, and she wanted out. After giving her the helpline phone number, I had the opportunity to pray over her. She ended the conversation with, “Thank you,” and I learned the next day that she called in and was meeting with one of their exit mentors.
Why did you decide to volunteer with Rescue Houston?
When given an opportunity to go serve, do it. We will never know we are good at something until we try it. Every spring break, I spend my days working in the 3rd or 5th wards of Houston with impoverished children or neighborhoods by painting houses, playing with children in a nonprofit daycare setting, picking up trash in the neighborhood, building wheelchair ramps, or doing yard work for the elderly. I then spend my nights working with Rescue Houston and Elijah Rising.
My work with both Rescue Houston and Elijah Rising is impactful in a way beyond my comprehension. Some of the work that I have done with these organizations include: going to brothels in the area and speak with the exploited women by giving them hope, giving information to local restaurants and hotels about noticing signs of human trafficking and making phone calls to exploited women who are sold online. Rescue Houston created a 24/7 helpline and women who are being exploited can call and they help them find a way out, meet with them in person, help them through the process with police (such as if they were a minor, want to press charges, had children, etc.) and give them a place to stay.
The helpline number can be given out in two different ways: Directly telling them over the phone or through lipstick. Rescue Houston and Elijah Rising remove the actual barcode from lipsticks and replace it with a new “barcode” that looks identical; however, the new numbers in the barcode are their helpline phone number. This way, it’s not only functional to the women, but can always be with them without being suspicious to the exploiter.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Volunteering can happen anytime, anywhere. Comfort zones are meant to be broken. Everyone has time to give; no one is too busy.
Oregon Teen Starts Kindness Campaign
Twelve-year-old Carlie Steele is on a mission to spread kindness in her hometown of Amity, Oregon. Since founding Carlie’s Kindness Campaign three years ago, the preteen has collected more than $2000 worth of toys for children undergoing chemotherapy, and she has gathered supplies for military servicemen and women overseas, including toiletries, games and DVDs. Carlie also started a campaign to raise awareness for people with intellectual disabilities that is designed to help eradicate the use of the derogatory “r” word and replace it with words like “rad,” “radiant” and “rockin’.” This fall, she will kick off her first annual Family 5K run, Kindness Rocks, to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation, and in November she plans to hold a community luncheon to benefit veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day.
Teen Volunteer Offers Cookies and Comfort to Hospice Patients
Teenagers in our culture are (in)famous for their feeling of invincibility and immortality,which means they tend to shy away from the end-of-life issues faced by hospice patients and their families every day. However, even as a middle school student, Spenser Harless has embraced these same patients and their families, and now serves as a valuable member of the family support team at Hospice & Palliative CareCenter’s Hospice Home. He began his service as a member of the Cookie and Craft Club, baking homemade cookies and making personalized arts and crafts for patients, families, and bereavement clients. Because of his dedication, Hospice “promoted” Spenser to a general direct support volunteer, visiting patients and families to provide companionship, friendship, and anything else needed to make them feel comfortable and loved. This meant that Spenser needed to make the commitment to undergo the 12 hours of training and mentorship required, which he did with gusto. Rarely do teenagers have the maturity and dedication needed to make this commitment, and, thus, Spenser is one of the youngest members of the family support volunteer team.
Retiree Offers Support to Families of Cancer Patients at North Carolina Hospital
Everyone can be a volunteer—no matter age, disability, talent, or time. Connie Dickens has been proving that for three decades, working closely with patients in Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Cancer Patient Support Program’s Radiation Oncology Hospitality room. Although Connie is 90, has limited eyesight, and depends on Trans-Aid to get around town, she doesn’t let any of these barriers keep her from showing up for her shift on time every Wednesday morning—often arriving early. After losing her spouse to cancer in 1986, she started volunteering at the hospital in 1988, wanting to provide care and comfort to families whose experience she knew all too well. Over those years, Connie has donated more than 10,750 hours of service, working with more than 1,300 guests in the last year alone. Connie knows how important it is to have someone walk alongside families facing one of their biggest and scariest hurdles, and she is committed to fulfilling that role as long as she can.
Frontline Families AmeriCorps Member Serves Veterans, Promotes Fire Safety in Her Community
Wendy Samples may have been the only Frontline Families AmeriCorps member in the entire state of Mississippi over the last year, but her friend and colleague, Heath Dearman, said she has been the perfect fit for this role.
“Wendy is definitely a go-getter and takes a lot of initiative,” said Heath. She is a full-time volunteer with the American Red Cross serving in many capacities, including Frontline Families — a national service AmeriCorps program run by Points of Light. Wendy has a heart for service and is very generous with her time, also volunteering with her local fire department and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We’ve been in the service for all of our lives,” Wendy said. With longstanding ties to the military – her grandfather, father and husband all served in the Navy, and her oldest son is an Iraq War veteran – Wendy has always wanted to give back to the military community.
Wendy has seen in her own family how, “active duty and veteran involvement in their communities does lead to more fulfilling lives for all community members and military personnel.” This belief, along with her dedication to serving her community, led her to give a year of service to Frontline Families, which gives military service members, veterans and their families the opportunity to connect more deeply with their communities, using volunteerism as a tool to help them transition back to civilian life.
One of the ways Wendy has connected with the community of veterans in her area and beyond is through planning the National Veterans Golden Age Games. This Olympic-style competition is held once a year and is designed to improve the quality of life for veterans ages 55 and up through sports and recreation. After a year of planning for the event, Wendy coordinated more than 1,000 volunteers who gave upwards of 8,500 hours of service.
Commitment to service is a family affair in Wendy’s household. In addition to the extensive military service of her family members, Wendy, her husband, and another of her four children have all worked or volunteered with their local fire departments – and Wendy became a medically certified emergency medical responder. “Her first instinct is to help people,” said Heath. When a tornado hit Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in early 2017, Wendy was initially called as a disaster responder. Her work in Hattiesburg quickly evolved into a support role doing casework for MEMA and FEMA in their relief efforts, and the project became part of her Frontline Families journey.
With her family’s service with local fire departments, it’s no surprise that the American Red Cross’ successful Home Fire Campaign was also part of Wendy’s Frontline Families program – and has become one of her largest ongoing projects. The Home Fire Campaign is focused on fire safety education and on installing smoke detectors for those who don’t have them. In March 2017, Wendy and her team were able to install 446 smoke detectors and reach 379 residents in rural Jackson County, helping to keep those residents safe.
Wendy believes deeply in volunteerism, instilling the spirit of service in her four children and six grandchildren. She believes no person is too young or too small to give back, even her youngest grandchild at just 6 years old. She said the biggest lesson she’s learned from serving as a member of Frontline Families is to “just have more faith in yourself and you can make a difference. Everybody can make a difference in your own way.”
To find volunteer opportunities in your area, search All for Good.
Teen Helps Shelter Animals Find Forever Homes
Maryland teen Casey Curry has been volunteering with Chesapeake Cats & Dogs (CCAD), a no-kill animal rescue in Queenstown, since 2014. CCAD is dedicated to rehabilitating and providing a second chance to cats and dogs that have been abandoned or abused. For the past two years, Casey has hosted the Fur-A-Cause Online Photo Contest, with all proceeds going toward the rescue. Additionally, she manages a “give back” night with a local restaurant, Mother’s Grille, to benefit CCAD.
Cammie Lee
Violinst Cammie Lee is the co-founder and music director of Project Prelude, a musical education program she launched last fall. The 16-year-old leads an after-school program with other high school volunteers to teach violin to fourth and sixth graders at the Aloha-Huber Park, a K-8 school in Aloha, Oregon, where 85% of the student population is economically disadvantaged. Books, supplies and instruments are provided at no charge to participants.
“Cammie believes that music education is an essential part of every student’s learning experience,” said Project Prelude co-founder Isabelle Zheng. “…she firmly believes in the power of [music] to empower, motivate and heal people – especially children.” Currently, Cammie is working to fund musical instruments for all of Project Prelude’s students.
