With Bars of Soap, Human Trafficking Survivor Spreads Message of Hope – and Help – to Victims
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Theresa Flores, who was a Top 10 finalist for the L’Oréal Women of Worth Award in 2017. Each year L’Oréal and Points of Light recognize and celebrate Women of Worth who make a beautiful difference in their communities. Ten honorees each receive a $10,000 grant to support their most cherished cause, and an online vote determines one honoree who will receive an additional $25,000 grant. Nominations for 2018 are now open! If you know a woman who works to create lasting and significant change in her community, nominate her to be one of the 2018 Women of Worth.
Every year, an estimated 1.3 million children go missing in the United States. If a missing child is not recovered within the first 48 hours, there is a 1 in 3 chance that they will be trafficked or solicited for sex. After surviving human sex trafficking as a teen, Theresa Flores founded S.O.A.P, which stands for ‘Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution,’ to raise awareness and provide resources for other victims.
Before her escape, some of Theresa’s darkest moments were experienced in motels. Today, Theresa is a passionate advocate for the defense of human trafficking victims and hopes that S.O.A.P will provide other victims with the resources they need to heal. S.O.A.P leverages a team of nearly 5,000 volunteers to place missing children posters, trafficking educational materials and bars of soap in motels and hotels across the country containing information on how to seek help and guidance in emergencies.
Janna Zilkha
New York teen Janna Zilkha is paying kindness foward with her recyclying program, Bottles for Buddies. When she was 12-years old, a volunteer from New York Friendship Circle’s buddy program began spending time with her cousin, who has special needs. The subsequent friendship between her cousin and the volunteer showed Janna the positive impact volunteers can have on the lives others. Janna is today’s Daily Point of Light, and she talked with Points of Light about her motivation for giving back.
What organization do you volunteer with?
During the summer of 2013, I created my own recycling program, Bottles for Buddies. I redeem recyclables, worth 5 cents each, and donate every penny to the New York Friendship Circle (FCNY), which sponsors programs uniting teen volunteers with children with special needs.
To date, I have recycled over 37,000 bottles and raised over $1800 dollars through recycling. By giving speeches at local organizations and through my public Facebook page, I have encouraged members of the community to recycle. Two members of the community have matched my recycling dollars. In January 2018 and 2017, I funded and lead “Teen Sceen” programs using crafts and music to bring FCNY volunteers and teens with special needs together.
What inspired you to give back?
When I was almost 12, I was preparing for my bat mitzvah, and I wanted to do a project that would be important to our local community. At that time, my cousin Roi, who has special needs, was living with me and my family. My mother found out about the New York Friendship Circle, and signed Roi up for their Friends At Home program.
Once a week, a teen from our local high school came to spend time with Roi, as a friend. This made Roi so happy, which in turn had a positive effect on the rest of the family. Although I knew I could never directly repay the Friendship Circle for making a difference in our lives, I decided that I wanted to raise money for the organization.
What is the most important lesson you have learned through your experience as a volunteer?
The most important lesson I learned is that one person really can make a big difference, and that a simple idea can have far-reaching effects.
Why do you think it’s important for other people to volunteer?
I think it’s important for other people to volunteer because there are always opportunities to bring more goodness into the world. I feel very proud of all that I have done though my volunteering to improve our environment, and the lives of hundreds of children with special needs.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Janna? Visit All For Good in order to find local volunteer opportunities.
Dick Doi
Dick Doi is a longtime volunteer with the Portland Japanese Garden, a 12-acre oasis with eight separate garden styles in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon.
Dick says he was inspired to give back to his community by the garden itself. “I […] wanted to share its splendor with others,” he said. “I also enjoy working with and sharing the history and culture of Japan with children. And, I am proud to support a nonprofit whose mission it is to bring tranquility and peace to others.”
“He often dedicates three days a week to being at the garden, and we rely and look forward to seeing him,” said tour and volunteer manager Catherine Adinolfi.
Dick has over 700 lifetime hours as a volunteer. Currently, he gives tours, acts as a greeter and docent, and looks after the garden’s bonsai. In the past roles, he provided horticultural support, fed the koi, led parades for children during cultural festivals, and acted as a concierge.
Do you want to give back to your community like Dick? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
David Kulp
David Kulp is a volunteer with Camp Possibilities in Darlington, Maryland. The camp supports families with children, aged 8-17, who have Type-1 diabetes. David has held a number of service roles for the nonprofit, beginning as a counselor-in-training. Currently, he helps with program management and acts as head division counselor.
“My family always has instilled the value of giving back to the community and expanding your horizons,” David said, “and Camp Possibilities offered me the perfect opportunity to do just that.”
David’s responsibilities include planning field trips, executing and designing the staff training program, engaging at-risk campers with comorbid diagnoses and behavioral management, and managing social media and outreach. He also helped fundraise by organizing the Emory for Possibilities team at the JDRF One Walk in Atlanta, which raised over $12,000 for Camp Possibilities.
Among the most important lessons he’s learned as a volunteer is the importance of embracing diversity and moving beyond his comfort zone. “I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to meet campers, staff, and friends from all different communities,” David said. “I’ve learned from these experiences that diversity, tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion are paramount and that everyone wants to have a place to belong.”
Do you want to make a difference in your community like David? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Sophia Pimentel
Sophia Pimentel is a volunteer with Novant Huntersville Medical Center in Huntersville, North Carolina. She aids nurses by stocking cabinets, passing out water, making care packages, and talking with patients to help brighten their day and ease their stay.
Sophia counts her mother as inspiration for giving back. “I have always been drawn to healthcare and providing people the care they deserve….” Sophia said. “My mother is a nurse and has always taught me to put other people first.”
The high school student is also involved in Pinky Swear, an organization that provides financial support to families with a child who has cancer, and she created the Caring Cards program which has distributed more than 800 cards to children’s hospitals.
“[Volunteering] gives you sense of community and appreciation you can’t get anywhere else,” Sophia said. “Every time I am done with volunteering at the hospital, or reach a goal for one of my projects I am overwhelmed with a sense of ‘Wow, I actually am making a difference, no matter how small it might be.’ If we all volunteered, the world would be such a beautiful place.”
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sophia? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Abuse Survivor Finds Strength in Giving Back, Providing Comfort to Other Victims in Times of Need
At the age of 15, Grace McAllister already understands the restorative power of giving back. After being sexually abused by her father from the age of 6 to 10, Grace found the courage to tell her stepmother – and endured months of interviews, counselors, lawyer visits, a court appearance, and disbelief from some family and friends. Left feeling alone and isolated, she spoke up once again, creating a YouTube video to tell her own story and to encourage other victims to “break the silence.”
Grace began volunteering at a local family resource center, collecting stuffed animals for other young abuse victims, and then created a Facebook page called You Have a Friend in Me. Through the page, she held donation drives and collaborated with local businesses to collect stuffed animals. She also started an ambassador program to encourage children in other states to collect stuffed animals for their local resource centers.
Through her program, Grace has collected and donated more than 1,000 new stuffed animals to comfort children traumatized by sexual abuse, and in 2017, she was recognized as a state honoree for the Prudential Spirt of Community Award.
“I have gained the knowledge that I am a survivor, not a victim,” says Grace. “I have seen that small tokens of love and hope can make a difference. I have gained back myself through volunteering.”
We spoke with Grace to learn more about You Have a Friend In Me and her commitment to helping other abuse survivors.
What motivated you to start You Have a Friend in Me?
I know how lonely I felt when I was going through the whole court processing and even beyond that, and I just wanted to give other victims something that they could hold onto during these hard times.
What have you learned through creating this program?
I’ve learned that you don’t have to let abuse define you. For the longest of time, I thought of myself as someone who was abused by their father. But after I started You Have A Friend in Me, I realized that I’m not just a survivor of abuse. I’m someone who uses her experiences to help other people.
What is your favorite memory from your volunteer work?
About two years ago, I was invited to speak at the family resource center to help them kick off Child Abuse Awareness Month. This was my first time speaking in public, and though it was nerve-wracking at first, I felt so powerful speaking about an issue that’s close to my heart.
Where do you hope to see You Have a Friend in Me in five years?
Hopefully, in five years we will have become a nonprofit organization, and we have stocked all of the resource centers in Mississippi with teddy bears, and we will be working on stocking the surrounding states.
Why do you think it’s important for others to get involved and make a difference in their community?
There is an abundance of problems in society and if we come together on issues we are passionate about, we can make a difference. Not only will this impact society, but it will also make people feel good about themselves, because they helped make that change.
What advice do you have for other volunteers who want to do something to support abuse survivors in their community?
First, I’d want to thank them for being a part of the change. Then, I would tell them that they can help by donating teddy bears, creating a support group for their community, encouraging victims to speak out, or just be their friend in this time of need.
Want to make a difference in your community? Visit www.allforgood.org to find local opportunities to get involved.
Deborah Ivie
Deborah Ivie volunteers as adminstrator of the service learning program at Entheos Academy, which has campuses in Kearns and Magna, Utah. One of the goals of Entheos is to empower youth, from kindergarten through ninth grade, to become leaders through service.
“The service learning component was something I wanted for my own children,” said Deborah, a mother of seven. “During the first few years, the school didn’t have the resources to put it into place. I knew I had the capability to put together a good program, and help the school to get where it needed to be.”
Over 15,000 hours of service have been given by sixth graders alone since [Deborah] instituted the program nine years ago,” said Melanie Louviere, a director at the school. “She still volunteers as service learning administrator by finding resources and mentoring students.”
Deborah says that the most important thing she’s learned through volunteering is that kids are capable of learning and giving back, as long as adults give them an avenue to learn.
“Adults often meet needs better as mentors, allowing youth to do the work,” she said.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Deborah? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Heidi Soden
Heidi Soden has volunteered for more than a decade with the Durham Rescue Mission, a homeless and urban rescue mission that provides boarding, food, vocational training, and counseling to men and women in the Durham, North Carolina area. Every Tuesday, she can be found assisting with food preparation, serving lunch, stocking shelves, helping with cleanup, and spending time talking with the men staying at the mission.
Heidi says that she was inspired to give back because of her faith, and that the most important lesson she’s learned from volunteering is that everyone has a life story to share.
“We were created for community and it is good to listen to others, love them unconditionally and encourage them,” Heidi said.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Heidi? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Colin Keady
Colin Keady has a passion for service. The high school junior gives back through organizations like Make-A-Wish and the Elks Federation. Also, as chair of the Alma High School Teen Age Republicans, he regularly participates in 12-hour volunteer challenges. During the challenges he and his peers help beautify their community by picking up litter, visit the elderly in senior centers, and make cards for soldiers and the homeless during the holidays. Recently, Colin started his own initiative, The Colin Keady Young Entrepreneurship Mentor Program, which provides young entrepreneurs with the resources necessary to start their own business.
“Volunteering provides an enriching experience like no other in the world,” Colin said. “That feeling in your heart that occurs when you help someone in need is unmatchable.”
Do you want to give back to your community like Colin? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
First-Grader Finds His Passion in Giving Back, Making the World a Better Place
Mikhail Laila is not your ordinary first grader. The San Diego, California, youth enjoys spending his free time giving back to his community. During the past year, he raised over $1000 during a read-a-thon to sponsor the education of eight girls in India; volunteered at a supply drive to benefit Helen Woodward Animal Center; worked alongside his mom, Chanthara, to sort baby clothes for Gently Hugged; and collected gently used Halloween costumes for Second Families, an organization that assists refugee families.
“My most memorable community service project was the read-a-thon,” Mikhail said. “It made me love books more and at the same time gave me an opportunity to raise awareness and funds to help others.”
Mikhail believes that volunteering is important because it helps people learn to empathize. “If enough people learn to volunteer and help others this will create a chain of helping hands across the world and make it a better world for all of us,” he said.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Mikhail? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
