Georgia College Student Uses Passion for Music to Help Those in Need
Caroline Buckner has always been passionate about music. The 21-year-old Georgia resident started piano lessons when she was four years old, started learning percussion — her instrument of choice — when she was in fifth grade, and then took up the guitar when she was a junior in high school. Her passion for music, combined with her desire to make a difference in people’s lives, has led her to pursue a career in music therapy, which she’s currently studying at Georgia College. Her future career is already commendable enough, but Caroline hasn’t stopped there in her path to help others — she also, as just a teenager, started her very own nonprofit, Concert for a Cause.
Concert for a Cause is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit that holds events and fundraisers, including an annual community charity concert, to raise money for music therapy services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as well as other metro Atlanta music therapy practices. What started as a Girl Scout project when Caroline was a teenager morphed into an organization that has to date raised thousands of dollars. On top of attending school and working a job, Caroline spends about ten to 15 hours a week leading the organization as its founder, president and executive director.
“I wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives,” Caroline said of her passion for music therapy. “Using my love of music and, thankfully, the music abilities that I have to to help other people and make their lives better and encourage them is just kinda who I am as a person so it seemed like a fitting profession to join.”
For her dedication to helping others through her passion for music, Caroline is today’s Daily Point of Light Award recipient. Points of Light spoke with her to learn more about Concert for a Cause.
Caroline has always had a passion for music, and can play percussion, piano and guitar./ Courtesy Caroline Buckner
Describe how you volunteer with Concert for a Cause.
Concert for A Cause was my Girl Scout Gold Award in my sophomore or junior year of high school. I had to do a Take Action project for Girl Scouts and was doing career exploration at the time, and so what I was doing was trying to figure out a way where I could do community service and do music because I was a music nerd at the same time. The woman who came to do our leadership seminar was a music therapist at Fulton County Schools. Her name was Amber Weldon-Stephens and she introduced me to the whole idea. So I met with the music therapist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and I asked if there was anything I could do to support their program. We did a charity concert with them at Cambridge High School our first year and raised a couple thousand dollars and donated it in the form of supplies to them. We bought bluetooth wall-mounted speakers that had CD players in them and we put them in every single room of their Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. Then we made music baskets to put into each of their rooms for patients who are admitted, because they’re usually there for a longer stay. It had headphones, iTunes gift cards and stuff like that.
I did my presentation on it and got my Gold Award and that was kind of the end of it. We left extra supplies there so they could continue giving them out afterwards as the longevity aspect of the project, but we hadn’t really considered taking it any further. Then the woman I was speaking to sent me an email a couple months later and asked me if I would do it again because they wanted more supplies and the patients really loved it. It was my senior year of high school and I figured since I was still in town, it wasn’t a big deal, and I did it again and that’s how it started. I kept up with it as I went to college because I’m about two and a half hours away from Roswell right now. So my third year was doing it on my own still with the help of community partners and stuff like that, and I decided that if we actually wanted to make this sustainable and get as much impact out of it as we could, then we should become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. I worked with a team of lawyers in Roswell in order to write our bylaws and come up with the executive board and all that fun stuff. We did the paperwork and became a 501(c)(3) and that was two years ago now.
I had an executive board built up of people in Roswell and mostly around Atlanta who had done the project before and who I felt would really help us grow. I’m the president and executive director of that board. A lot of what I do is oversight and long term, five-year plans. I’ll help our director of performer relations schedule acts and interview people who want to play at our shows and things like that. I’ll also help the vice president with making sure we have enough donors and things like that for our silent auction and main events. We work on a five-year plan so, for example, we’re working on expanding to offer grants to music therapy private practices in addition to just supporting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Up until this point we’ve only worked with their music therapy department, but we’re at the point where we’re in a good spot financially right now, so we can expand that. We have an Amazon wishlist through Amazon Smile where people from anywhere with internet access can purchase supplies that music therapists in the area are requesting through this list, and it will be sent to us and we can distribute them to the private practices. So in addition to doing Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we can offer direct supplies and we’re working on expanding to be able to offer two grants that music therapists in the area can apply for.
What kind of acts do you have at the concert?
We try to show a very wide variety of music. Last year’s concert, we had everything from electronic tuba to a percussionist playing flower pots while doing a spoken word poem. It’s a very wide range. We stick to some traditional things, we’ll have a singer-songwriter set with guitar and vocals or piano and vocals. We also try to show some of the weird stuff as well so people can see how wide reaching music is, because music therapy is all about helping others and adapting it so music can help them heal in whichever way they need to. So we try to show the wide range of that and we’ll have any ages. I think the youngest we’ve had is maybe 10, all the way up to close to 60 or probably 65, just to show that music is for everyone and anyone can partake in it. We also incorporate a lot of music therapy ideas in them, in the way that we want our audience to experience some of the interventions that we would do actually with clients so they kind of know what it is they’re supporting. The concert is usually about two and a half hours, so it could be anywhere from probably six to 10 people performing. It’s a little flexible based on the types of acts we have perform.
What does music therapy and having access to items like you have in the music baskets do for patients?
The first year, as far as the gift baskets and things like that, were used as a way to extend access to music beyond when a music therapist could get there, because just about everybody has a smart phone so it included the ability for the client to have preferred music. Because originally before we started, the CIRU [Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit] only had two or three portable CD players and there were, I want to say, 37 beds on that floor, but I’m not 100 percent sure. So even if more clients wanted access to it, they physically didn’t have the means for it. So that would be the extension of music therapy outside of listening to preferred music. But also it allows a music therapist to interact with more of the clients if they have the resources available. Even simply listening to music that the client prefers stimulates the neurological pathways which encourages the healing that they’re trying to do, especially on the CIRU floor. Because a lot of them, it’s severe trauma, so anything at all helps. There’s a lot of research backing up listening to music versus getting a specialized music therapist, so they don’t have to worry about whether or not they can afford egg shakers to help their clients and things like that. Music therapy in a pediatric setting can do just about anything. We work with a lot of different domains and they co-treat with the interdisciplinary teams so speech, OT, PT, and things like that. This way they kind of benefit and support each other. And without a strong music therapy department, the client is not getting the full amount of holistic treatment and the allied arts treatment that they need in order to best recuperate.
Do you have any plans for the future, both concerning the organization itself and your personal involvement with the organization?
We’ll have our singer-songwriter festival, that will be in Milledgeville and that will be in October. We don’t have a date nailed down for that. We have our community charity concert every year in June. The one this year was postponed … but June 2020 will be our next actual Concert for a Cause. Honestly I would just encourage people mostly to follow us on social media to figure out what we’re up to, because a lot of times we’ll do spirit nights and partner with local restaurants and businesses and things like that. We’ll have one to two of those events each month.
I hope to continue for a long time. I enjoy it a lot and it’s wonderful to see the impact that we have in the community and as far as helping the advancement of music therapy. It’s not really a new field but it’s an up-and-coming field that more people are beginning to learn about. I think it’s extremely important that the music therapy world feels they have the community support in order to further impact what they’re doing with their clients. I’ll always be the founder but I hope to be the director for a long time, with the help and great support of my executive board. They’re awesome.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Probably realizing how many people don’t know about music therapy and being able to educate them about that. A lot of times we’ll have people come up and ask what it is, and the light bulbs on their face that they get are really rewarding. Or when you have someone come up to you about music therapy, how they’ve had an interaction with it and they associate you with it. One of my friends from high school, his mom contacted me on Facebook the other day because his uncle was about to pass away. He was at the end of life and they had a music therapist come in and drop off an iPad and do some sessions with his uncle. When his mom walked in and saw the iPad, she thought it was just one of the family members thinking it was a good idea to play music, but it was actually the music therapist at the hospital. Not only did she think it comforted the uncle, she thought it comforted her and the entire rest of her family. She sent me this really long Facebook message about how important it was and how much it meant to them to have that experience, and how she never would have known about it if she hadn’t met me and seen my project and things like that. So just seeing and hearing the impact that music therapy has and the fact that we’re supporting that, and having these people come share their stories with us, is honestly one of the most encouraging things ever, both for Concert for a Cause and going into the profession.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Because we wouldn’t be able to survive without each other. A lot of people don’t have the same gifts and don’t have the same luck in life that a lot of us do. To be able to grow up and be in a situation to help other people who might not have had it as well as you have, and being able to help them make a difference in their life, is extremely important in the community. You can very much see when a community doesn’t have the support of each other, and that’s not really a place anybody wants to live. I think it’s extremely important in this day and age where a lot of people are so willing to attack other people, and the idea that their opinions are different or their lifestyles are different. The fact that we’re so willing to comment on that versus commenting on helping someone across the street, or helping to pay off student loans, and things like that — if we had more of that, we would be more successful as a society.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
To get involved doing what you love. Everyone is passionate about something. For me it’s music, but some people are very passionate about animals and going to the animal shelter, or feeding the hungry or planting trees, that kind of thing. Everyone has something that they love to do, and figure out how [to take] what you love to do [and] you can use that to support someone else. No matter what it is, you can always use what you love to inspire or to encourage or to support someone else that might not have found that love yet or might have slipped from that. It’s extremely important to give back to the community in general just because you can make a difference, and the more people that choose to make a difference, and to take this path of community service and volunteerism, the better off your communities will be. It helps you grow as a person, too.
From the Volunteer Firehouse to the Local Hospital, 91-Year-Old is Committed to a Life of Service and Compassion
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Esther Worchel. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Esther Worchel has been volunteering for more than 30 years, since retiring as a high school teacher in 1988. From serving in various capacities at the local hospital, to driving the firetrucks at the local fire station she founded with her husband, the 91-year-old’s commitment to a life of service remains unyielding.
Living in the small town of Slidell, Louisiana, Esther knew that the Ochsner Medical Center was always in need of volunteers. Once she retired, her servant heart became an invaluable addition to the hospital’s labs, the radiology department and the Sunshine gift shop. Esther has given nearly 10,000 volunteer hours to the hospital, and now spends every Friday making popcorn at a fundraiser to raise money for the hospital’s Cooking-up Healthy Options and Portions program.
When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Esther was forced to relocate to Florida for six months. Despite having to move hundreds of miles away from the hospital, Esther continued to volunteer her time and expertise to help the Sunshine gift shop from afar by managing finances and inventory. Even as she struggled to put her home back together from a distance, Esther remained concerned for the welfare of the hospital and its patients.
Some of her favorite memories as a volunteer have been assisting those in need at the Ochsner Medical Center. “I’ve always been a people person, and I love guiding patients and their families in the right direction,” said Esther. “I enjoy meeting people, and when I get to point them in the right direction towards the right people, I know I’ve made a difference.”
The city of New Orleans recognized Esther in 2013, naming her as one of city’s Health Care Heroes for her outstanding community involvement as a volunteer.
Esther also cherishes the time she spent volunteering at Children’s Wish Endowment, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to local children of southwestern Louisiana who experience chronic, life-threatening or terminal illness. She volunteered on the organization’s board of directors for nearly 15 years, and brought sparks of hope into the lives of children and families in need.
She also spent 10 years as a volunteer firefighter for the St. Tammany Parish district one station. She lived in a neighborhood where water wells were the only source of water to put out a fire. After two houses burned down in her community, Esther and her husband saw a need for quicker fire response times and created the area’s volunteer firefighter station.
No matter the volunteer role, Esther is rooted in living a life of service to others, and plans to continue serving those around her in the years to come. “I want people to know that they can do the same,” said Esther. “Reach out and do something for people in need instead of staying still.”
Continuing Her Parents’ Volunteer Mission to Help Children
At 20, Danielle Agleam has already had years of volunteering experience. Born to parents in the medical field committed to making a difference in the community, she learned at an early age the benefits of giving back. Because her parents are members of Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps – her mom is a nurse and her dad is a respiratory therapist – Danielle joined the MRC herself as a way to gain healthcare experience. The MRC is a national network of medical and non-medical volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. Initially set on being a nurse, Danielle switched her major to psychology with a minor in health to prepare for a career as a child life specialist. A regular volunteer with Texas Children’s Hospital, she’s using her experience to prepare for a lifetime of helping children.
Danielle is committed to making a difference in her community and she is today’s Daily Point of Light Award honoree. Points of Light spoke with her about her commitment to service.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I am always inspired by my parents and extended family members who constantly put so much hours into our community. They are always looking for ways to contribute and help bring positivity through volunteering.
Describe your volunteer role.
I volunteer at Texas Children’s Hospital and with the Montgomery Medical Reserve Corps. I also volunteer at school through my Student Nursing Organization (SNO). At Texas Children’s Hospital, I work the Welcome Desk. So, I help patients and families navigate their way through the hospital. I also volunteer at events for the families and children whether it is bringing awareness to something or to allow the children to have fun by making crafts and escaping into a playtime environment. I connect with children from infants to the age of 18 along with their families.
Danielle Agleam volunteers with the Medical Rerve Corps as a way to give back to the community./ Courtesy Points of Light
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part of volunteering is working with children and seeing the impact I have on them. There truly is no better satisfaction that seeing a child smile from a simple gesture. As an aspiring Child Life Specialist, it is so important that I always help the families that walk in through the hospital doors and let them know that we are here for them and provide them with whatever they need, even to play with their child while they run to go get a coffee.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I have learned through my experiences as a volunteer that there are so many unnoticed people and things that need our help and it is our job to fill in the gaps in our community. Through volunteering at Texas Children’s, MRC, and school organizations I have learned a lot about others, the community, and myself. Being exposed to different organizations has taught me that my passion is working with children. Texas Children’s has made a huge impact on what I plan on doing with my career and my goal is to work there in the future.
Are there any future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about?
I am most excited to continue and expand my volunteering at the children’s hospital since I want to work with children in the future.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I think it is important for others to give back because I believe when you are blessed or have received a blessing in your life that you should reciprocate it back to others.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I think others should learn from my story that it does not matter what age, background, or how busy you are, it’s always possible to give back. There are so many ways and opportunities to volunteer, it only takes initiative and passion to make a difference.
Teenager Inspired by Oprah to Support Military Families with ‘Stars for Cars’
As an 8-year-old, Jake Gallin says he was inspired to honor American military families after watching an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. Yes, Oprah.
Featuring then current First Lady Michelle Obama and a Gold Star mother, Teresa Arciola, the episode discussed the “The Bravest Families in America.” Teresa’s son had died at the age of 20 while fighting in Iraq in 2005. Listening to Teresa’s appeal that her son’s sacrifice not be forgotten, Jake, now a 17-year-old, says he was immediately compelled to take action so that each military family is recognized for their sacrifice and generosity.
Launching Stars for Cars in 2011, a program that sells star-shaped magnetic decals online, its mission is to raise awareness and for civilians to show their support of military families. Honoring “Blue Star” families – those who have a family member in active military service, and “Gold Star” families – those who have lost a family member in military service, 100% of the proceeds support United Service Organization (USO) programs.
Reminding his community of the 1% of our country that are currently in the armed services protecting the other 99%, Jake is reminding all Americans to honor our “Gold Star” and “Blue Star” military families, and is today’s Daily Point of Light award honoree. Points of Light spoke to Jake to learn more about his volunteerism with Stars for Cars.
What inspires you to volunteer?
A myriad of things. One, there’s still work to be done. As long as military families are still making these sacrifices, I’ll still be there. I’m committed to them for the long haul. Also, there’s a need to extend support to these families beyond the military circle. Civilians need to recognize the challenges they face, and provide support. There’s a need for their children to feel like they’re settled down in their community after the 9th move because of their parent’s career.
Explain how these decals work.
My goal is that a family will have the decal on their car, and some passerby in the next town or city where the car travels might ask about its meaning, and want to learn more about what they can do to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the people I call, “Our Nation’s One Percenters.”
Describe your role with Stars for Cars.
I raise awareness, fundraise, and write a blog to publish information about the organization, our events and military holidays. I research schools around the country for our “3 Holidays Announcement” program. I also wrote to every member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate along with the president and many other officials to request a “3 Holidays Announcement” bill. We sell the decals on the internet, and since launching Stars for Cars, I’ve volunteered several thousand hours and we have raised more than $80,000 for the USO of Metropolitan New York.
Jake Gallin pictured alongside Teresa Arciola, a Gold Star mother./ Courtesy Jake Gallin
You raise awareness in many ways for military families. Describe “3 Holidays Announcement” to me.
I wanted to find a way for people to not have to donate money in order to participate with us and support military families. We are now in 43 states across the country, and over 850,000 students have heard the announcement during the school day, which is said in schools on or before 9/11, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day to acknowledge the sacrifices made by military families. The announcement can be said at other venues and on alternative days as well such as graduation. It is a cost-free way to show you care.
What’s your life motto?
I visited Arlington National Cemetery in 2015, and discovered a famous quote at an exhibit honoring former President John F. Kennedy’s legacy. I was struck by a line from his inauguration speech: ‘And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.’ If you find a cause that you’re committed to, the rest just clicks in to help push a cause forward.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
My service has given me new perspective and opened my eyes to new experiences. I interact with new people, I see new things, and I learn about new topics I hadn’t thought about before.
What does it mean to know that you are helping military families?
I do this because we’re nowhere near completion. As long as these people are serving, we’re still here and we’re still going to do what we always do. It makes me feel good that I’ve had some sort of role in recognizing military families. I’ve done what I intended to do to help take even some of the burden off of these families that they carry every day. The genesis of my volunteerism was that Mrs. Arciola worried Americans would forget people like her son, who had given their lives to this country, and we’re making sure that doesn’t happen.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
What we’ve done with Stars for Cars shows how easy it is to get involved. There are plenty of causes to get involved with, and fall in love with, and feel that dedication. If everyone does one small act, that really adds up. It’s so good to know you’re doing your tiny little part to make the world a better place.
Jake Gallin has done many letter writing campaigns as he works to raise awareness of military families and Stars for Cars. /Courtesy Jake Gallin
You’re nearing the end of your high school career. Tell me what you do for fun.
I’m finishing my junior year in high school, I like math and history, and enjoy hanging out with my friends – normal teenage stuff. I am hopeful to pursue a career wherever there’s a need. Maybe engineering, maybe start a business. I’ve thought about criminal defense too.
How can readers help?
By raising awareness, we hope to have participation in all 50 states or 1 million students participating in our “3 Holidays Announcement” by this Memorial Day. Fundraising is also critical to help support USO programs. We’ll hold the “Century Ride for Military Families” in Summer 2019. Please check out our website for more information on how you can join us, and how you can help: http://www.starsforcars.org/.
Using Peer-to-Peer Education and Donated Supplies, Teen Seeks to Eradicate Dental Disease in Underserved Communities
Meet Daily Point of Light Awardhonoree Avi Gupta. Read his story and nominatean outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Stunned by a headline that read, “One toothbrush for 49 disabled children in government homes,” 17-year-old Avi Gupta decided to combat the inequalities that many youth experience around the globe. So, he began collecting surplus dental supplies from local dentists in his Portland, Oregon, community — a simple act that grew into a global nonprofit that spreads dental health education to ensure a better, healthier future for all.
It was the summer before Avi’s sophomore year of high school when Project32 came to life, in 2016. He was planning to travel to India later that fall with his family, and believed it would be a perfect opportunity to make a difference. He emailed organizations and dentists across the Portland area, asking for donations – and he received more than 1,000 toothbrushes to fill his suitcases with. His passion for dental hygiene and education was contagious, and he caught the attention of local dentists and government leaders in India. Avi was invited to be a part of a community campaign for the Right to Health, where he donated his first batch of toothbrushes and hygiene kits.
Avi Gupta distributes toothbrushes and hygiene kits to youth in India.
After that trip to India, Avi knew he wanted to grow his service into a sustainable nonprofit that would solve important societal issues through education. Project32 is a student-run nonprofit at Catlin Gabel School in Portland, with a mission to eradicate dental disease by providing access to dental hygiene supplies and education to underserved communities. The organization partners with local dentists, urban homeless shelters and global nonprofits to spread dental resources to youth around the world.
As Avi worked towards scaling Project32 – 32 representing the number of teeth in a healthy adult’s mouth – he had the opportunity to coordinate a workshop during a school trip to Guatemala in the spring of 2017. In the village they visited, families often live on less than $1 a day. Avi hosted a workshop for students, distributing health kits and toothbrushes and inspiring the youth to share their learnings with the older generations.
Peer-to-peer education is central to Project32 and particularly important in dental hygiene, says Avi, because peers have the unique ability to shape long-term habits in one another. One of Avi’s favorite memories while leading Project32 is a reflection of this. While Project32 members were teaching students at that Guatemalan school how to brush their teeth, Avi pulled aside one child who was running late and gave him a private lesson. At the end of Avi’s instruction, the kid ran straight out of the school building – he told everyone that he was sorry, but he had to go show his family immediately so they could start brushing their teeth, too.
The ripple effect of Project32’s educational efforts are inspiring a generation of young leaders. “It’s so important to educate the youth in the community,” said Avi. “If you can form lifelong habits in them, then they will pass it along to older generations and younger generations to come.”
Children participate in a Project32 workshop in Guatemala, hosted by Avi Gupta and his peers.
Now finishing his senior year of high school, Avi has been responsible for bringing Project32’s mission to life. The organization has not only taught him leadership skills, but helped him learn the true value of teamwork and education. Avi is also heavily involved in other service-orientated activities at his school and in his community. He co-founded the school’s chess club, does research at the Linder and Hinds Labs at Oregon Health and Science University, and recently qualitied as one of 15 teenagers selected nationwide to participate in the 2019 Jeopardy! Teen Tournament, which airs the week of June 17, 2019.
What’s next for the graduating senior? He wants to use the power of education to make societal changes, and will begin his next chapter at Columbia University’s Engineering school in the fall of 2019. “A lot of kids feel that they have passions and then they have education, and that they’re separate. They aren’t mutually exclusive,” he said. “I want to encourage youth to combine the two to solve an issue, and just see what good will happen.”
Maryland Preteen Collects Books and Backpacks for Students in Rural India
When Naisha Bellam returned from visiting family in India last year, she couldn’t stop thinking about the numerous young children she saw who were not receiving the same educational opportunities as her due to a lack of economic resources. The twelve-year-old Maryland native said she couldn’t not do something to help — so she started the Chirag Youth Group in Maryland and recruited about 50 volunteers to help her collect books, backpacks and other resources for underprivileged children. The organization started helping children in India, and is now starting to collect resources for children in African countries as well. Under her leadership, the Maryland club has raised thousands of dollars for kids in need and set up libraries at 125 schools in India.
On top of her role with the Chirag Youth Group, Naisha also frequently volunteers for SSL, or student service learning opportunities, which are Maryland state-required student community service hours. She has earned over 400 hours so far, and says she volunteers for almost every opportunity that she can throughout Montgomery County, MD.
For her constant dedication to helping improve the lives of kids throughout the world, Naisha is today’s Daily Point of Light honoree. Points of Light spoke with her about what motivates her to help so many.
Describe how you volunteer.
I volunteer by doing SSL opportunities, I volunteer in elementary schools, and I have an initiative to benefit kids in India [Chirag Youth Group]. Basically any SSL opportunity there is in Montgomery County, I most likely do it and it’s a variety of different types of things. I’ve made ribbons to put on a Christmas tree that had names of cancer patients and the tree was in Florida. I volunteer in my elementary school and we donate these bags of food that benefit kids who might not have food at home, and things like that.
[With the Chirag Youth Group], we mainly focus our projects to benefit kids in India but now we’re moving it to benefit kids in Africa, too. We had a mini library project where we set up basic libraries in rural schools in India. We also had this Caring4Kids [project] where we’ve donated multivitamins to kids in India too.
What gave you the idea to start the Chirag Youth Group?
Every alternate year, I travel to India with my family to visit my grandparents. Last year was special because during my visit, I saw many young children, mostly girls, working as child workers due to lack of resources and economic status. Many of these kids are forced to quit school in order to take care of their younger siblings or families, or they just get married at a young age because their parents couldn’t provide basic education or proper meals. It’s terrible and I wanted to help them because I knew these kids were very smart and had a lot of potential. After I returned to America, it was very hard for me to forget the stories because after everything I’ve seen and experienced, I just couldn’t leave it in the past. I heard stories from these kids and the hardships they are facing at such a young age and I believe every kid has the right to choose what they want to be in life. But this can’t happen if they’re forced to drop out of school and they don’t know what career options they have.
Naisha says the joy she felt while spending time with kids she met while volunteering in India is incomparable./ Courtesy Naisha Bellam
What made you want to set up library?
When me and my father went to India, we visited a rural school and I noticed they didn’t have a library and didn’t have basic needs. It was really hard to forget what happened to them so when I got back to America, I started collecting books and donating books to the kids in India.
They sent a lot of pictures and videos and thank you notes, and my heart just filled with joy.
What motivates you to spend so much of your time volunteering?
Because seeing the joy that fills me up that comes from these kids, I just can’t stop and I’m determined to help even more. I believe in a [Winston Churchill] quote that “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” I’m trying to give as much as I can to help these kids have a better life.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work with the Chirag Youth Group?
Seeing the smiles on their faces and knowing that I’m making their life better. After we donated the books, we got their test scores back, and for the majority of their schools, 100 percent of [the students] passed and I felt very good.
Have your experiences as a volunteer played any role into what you want to do when you grow up?
I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, but I want to be a human rights lawyer to fight for the people. And I’m not going to stop with what I’m doing, I’m going to keep doing my volunteering. I was a very shy kid with hardly any confidence to stand alone but once I started doing SSL volunteering at organizations, I’ve gained a lot of confidence and knowledge and esteem about me and compassion and care and giving. I had learned all these qualities as a kid in preschool but I couldn’t develop it, but during the course of growing up and doing SSL, I have lost all these characteristics that are necessary. So once I started SSL, I realized I’m shaping into a good human being and my life was changing. Once I started working for these kids, the inner strength in me started showing up in the form of determination and motivation. I had this will to do good and have a never give up attitude.
Personally, I have learned a lot from my experience dealing with donors and charity event coordinators and volunteers, but the best learning experience is from the beneficiary kids who have taught me to be optimistic and always keep smiling in every phase of life. My trip to India to set up libraries was a memorable time for me as I got to explore the tribal culture and talk with kids and spend quality time learning new vocabulary. The joy that I get spending time with these kids is incomparable and can never be measured with numerous video games or trendy clothes or cool shoes. Whenever I interacted with the kids who benefited by my work, it gave me immense satisfaction and peace. I want to study hard and become a human rights lawyer so I can be a voice for those who cannot speak.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I want them to learn that it’s great to give back and you shouldn’t take everything for granted. Doing volunteer work can benefit you in so many ways. No matter what happens to you, if you have volunteering, you can benefit everyone.
California Woman is “Grandmother” to Kindergarteners Developing Reading Skills
As an AARP Experience Corps tutor, Cadie Marotta is sharing a lifetime of knowledge with the youngest minds in her community.
Assigned to Earl Warren Elementary School in the Sacramento, California school district, where less than one-third of 3rd-grade students meet or exceed language arts standards, starting pre-fluency skills with children at an early age is crucial, Cadie says. The 69-year-old, who worked for the state before retiring, is tutoring kindergarten students so that they develop reading skills and hopefully, she says, cultivate a love for reading that will carry them through their academic careers. In addition, Cadie is a valued presence in the classroom, where increasing classroom sizes means that not every child can receive the extra attention they sometimes need.
Making a lasting impact on the newest generation and contributing to her community’s ability to thrive,
Cadie is spending more than 100 hours in the classroom annually, and is today’s Daily Point of Light award honoree. Points of Light spoke to Cadie to learn more about her volunteerism.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I was a single mom to my kids. My son had learning disabilities and struggled through school. I saw how hurtful it was for him to not be able to learn as quickly as his sister, and it was important for me to help support children like him in the community, now that I have a chance to give back.
Describe your role with as an Experience Corps tutor at Earl Warren Elementary.
Through the AARP Experience Corps, which is managed in Sacramento by the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, I work with a handful of children who are new readers and need some extra help. Some kids are coming into kindergarten without nursery school, and some don’t speak English. They face a lot of challenges. I’ll meet with the students in groups of 2 or 3, and we work on vocabulary, sight words, sentence segmenting. We integrate games into the program, it’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my life. I also volunteer in the classroom by assisting the teacher, and help to give individualized attention to kids that need it. If one of the kids needs help with math, or their ABC’s, they know they can come to me.
Cadie tutors kindergarten students so that they develop reading skills and hopefully, she says, cultivate a love for reading that will carry them through their academic careers./Courtesy Cadie Marotta
What’s your life motto?
‘It could be worse.’ I’m very grateful for the fact that I’m economically comfortable thanks to many, many years of hard work, and I’m relatively healthy. I’m grateful I have the resources to do this volunteer work.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Initially, I was really nervous to go into a classroom because I’d never worked one-on-one with little kids. I’d raised my own kids, but I was also working full-time while doing so. Through this volunteerism, I’ve learned that I really have resources of patience that I didn’t think I had. I have a sense of fun with them that I didn’t get a chance to experience with my own kids. I’m kind of like a pseudo grandparent. They all come to ‘Miss M’ and I get hugs. When they’re lining up to leave for the day, I’ll say, ‘see you later, alligator,’ and they finally learned to say, ‘after awhile, crocodile” (laughs).
What does it mean to know you’re helping other people?
As part of each tutoring session, I read from a variety of children’s literature and poetry to share my excitement and love of reading with my students. It is a extraordinary feeling when I know I’ve read a book that really engaged my students, and when they hang over my shoulder to see what comes next. And I now know more about dinosaurs and dragons than I ever thought I would.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
One little boy, he’s one of my wild men. He’s tends to challenge authority. He’s finally starting to work with me. One day, we worked with Legos for an activity, and he put together a very well planned building. I told him, ‘Jayden, you have a very logical mind.’ He said, ‘what’s that?’ I said, ‘you figure things out.’ He looked surprised. I told him he could be an engineer! And he had a startled look on his face. I think I put a little bug in his mind. Now I remind him each day that he has a logical mind. With little people, you never know what key thing or experience will stick in their head, or what will spark their imagination. Anything I do, or teach them, may turn out to be an impactful experience that they take with them in life.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
It doesn’t matter how long you spend volunteering. I do it out of love, so I spend scheduled time in the classroom each week, but whatever volunteer hours are put in, I think they’re valuable. Volunteerism as a goal is important in itself regardless of whether people are volunteering with children, old people or teenagers. It is all important, and it all counts.
How can readers help?
Please check out AARP’s Experience Corps website for more information: https://www.aarp.org/experience-corps/experience-corps-volunteer/
North Carolina Teenager Uses Passion for Science to Mentor Kids
It’s not always easy to get a kid interested in learning in school, much less outside of the classroom and on their free time. But Sarah Houston’s passions for both science and volunteering encouraged her to take on that very challenge by helping out at her local Discovery Place, a network of museums in the Carolinas that provide educational programs for students across all grades. Since last fall, Sarah has donated about 15 hours of her time each month to Discovery Place’s biology lab, Explore More ME. There, she helps teach the labs to visiting families on top of cleaning and taking care of the lab itself. In addition, she helps teach Discovery Place’s weekly biotech session for homeschooled students in the area.
On top of Discovery Place and being a student herself, Sarah also makes time to volunteer for her church’s peer mentoring program. The sixteen-year-old has a long history of volunteering, including at a local food pantry and pregnancy resource center. But Sarah, who aspires to work in the medical field, says Discovery Place is the perfect fit for her when it comes to volunteering — and she encourages others to also find how they can combine what they’re passionate about with volunteering.
For helping to spread her love of science to kids while still a student herself, Sarah is today’s Daily Point of Light honoree. Points of Light spoke with her to learn more about how she’s helping to spread knowledge in her community.
Describe to me the different ways you volunteer.
Currently, I actively volunteer at my church and then at Discovery Place. I work in a lab called Explore More ME — a biology lab — and I can help out with teaching lessons and interacting with guests. We always have monthly labs and I get to learn them and research them, and then whenever families come in, I can help them complete the labs or answer any questions they have. I’m also responsible for the upkeep of the lab so cleaning, general work like that.
With my church, I’m on the youth board, so we plan events for that. We started a biweekly teen talk which is like a peer mentoring program, and that’s funded by our church. It’s for underserved youth in Concord and Charlotte. We always choose a different location every two weeks.
Sarah says teaching the labs at Discovery Place has helped her become a better public speaker and communicator./Courtesy Sarah Houston
Why did you want to volunteer for Discovery Place?
Just my passion for science, I would say. I want to go into the medical field, so being able to interact in a lab with other volunteers was really helpful for me. Also because I get to engage with little kids and their parents and try to make it a little bit more fun for them when they come.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part is probably just seeing people smile or being able to brighten someone’s day. Especially at a place like Discovery Place, a lot of parents will be frustrated and maybe not in the best mood, and then they come into the labs and they see all these different things that I’m able to show [the kids] and teach them and they get really happy. Just seeing that smile or knowing that I helped to make their day a little bit better is always very rewarding to me.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I’ve learned a lot, just to be open with people. I used to kind of be secluded or laid back and not really engaging, but now whenever I see someone off the street, I’m being really friendly just because I know what that can do to somebody’s day. I’ve become a little more friendly and outgoing I would say. Also better at public speaking, having to explain labs. So just being a little bit better with public speaking and wording myself better.
Have your experiences as a volunteer influenced you in anyway in terms of what you want to do once you graduate high school?
My dream job in the medical field would be surgery. The EMM lab is always doing different dissections, a lot of hands-on activities you can’t really find anywhere else. That’s kind of why I was drawn to Discovery Place, because even though it’s made for kids, those labs have really interesting scientific-based stuff. And we also get readings so we can research these different topics, and we can make our own projects with our supervisor. So being able to have a more hands-on approach has helped me decide more what to do with my career.
Sarah helps teach kids of all ages in Discovery Place’s biology lab at their downtown Charlotte, NC location./ Courtesy Sarah Houston
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I always think volunteering is a really important thing because it helps you grow with people. It helps you make bond with people even if it’s someone you’ll never see again. It’s always good to learn more about others’ cultures or experiences. Also just being able to inspire people or teach people. You can also learn about other people and learn how to be a better presenter and better person overall.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
You don’t always have to go through a traditional route [with volunteering]. I think people should always look to volunteer in specialized fields or look to go somewhere inspiring that they are really passionate about. For me, I found out I was really passionate about science and Discovery Place fit that completely, so that was the perfect fit for me. I would always tell people to go after what they’re passionate about, as well as have a passion for helping others.
I would say people should try to lead a little bit more in volunteering as well. Always try to do something unique to you and make it so you can lead others or teach others that are coming after you.
Retiree Builds Life of Success Through Foundation of Literacy, One Child at a Time
They are the children who get left behind. Unable to read at grade level and many lacking support at school or home, these children believe they aren’t smart enough to read, says 71-year-old Michael McAdams.
A Colorado Springs, Colorado based organization is stepping in, however, to break that cycle of illiteracy and help support the thousands of elementary school children at risk of failing in school in Colorado. The Children’s Literacy Center (CLC) is a statewide program that facilitates tutorial sessions between volunteers and children on a one-on-one basis, so that the child is able to meet state reading standards and go on to find success in school and life.
A retired Air Force civilian, Michael says that his love for reading and children has translated into service that makes a true impact on the lives of children in his community. Having served as a volunteer with the organization for 28 years, Michael is today’s Daily Point of Light award honoree. Points of Light spoke to Michael to learn more about his volunteerism with CLC.
What inspires you to volunteer?
The kids that we teach at CLC have come to believe, either through themselves or through messages they’ve gotten from adults, that they can’t learn. They’ve internalized this idea that, ‘I’m dumb, I’m never going to learn to read’. Inevitably, once we spend time with them, there comes a point when they realize that they can learn to read. That moment is just such an incredible change to the kid’s attitude. It’s more than just teaching them how to read a few words on the page, it’s amazing to be able to teach confidence, and give these children hope.
Describe your role with Children’s Literacy Center.
I meet with the assigned child one-on-one twice each week. We spend part of the time working with word skills, reviewing letter sounds, and determining how to decode words they don’t know. I’ll read a paragraph or sentence, then they’ll read a paragraph or sentence. The back and forth reinforces their learning and reinforces what smooth reading feels and sounds like. I’ll work with some children for one semester, but sometimes the tutoring lasts up to a full school year. It just depends on how long it takes to get the child up to school level reading.
Michael pictured alongside his most recent student, who is now reading above grade level. Through CLC tutoring sessions, children who are reading below grade level are taught to meet state reading standards and go on to find success in school. /Courtesy Michael McAdams
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Nearly every child can learn to read. What they need is somebody that knows that they’re going to be able to learn to read. Some of these children face barriers to reading, whether their parents are illiterate or semi-literate, or there’s some other issue. I approach these situations as an outside adult, with the absolute certainty that these kids are going to be able to read. We look at whatever level they are at and build on success from there.
What does it mean to know that you are changing a child’s life so profoundly?
It’s obviously very, very satisfying, and it’s exciting. That moment when the child begins to learn and begins to know that they can learn, is absolutely incredible. It’s also just fun to be with these kids. We read funny stories, we read poems and we celebrate everything that they learn.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
Recently, I tutored a child in 2nd grade whose family was in turmoil. She was dealing with her family splitting up, and at the same time, she wasn’t getting much support at school. So when she came for her tutoring sessions, she’d frequently arrive with something on her mind that was upsetting her, and we’d spend time just letting her talk before we moved on to the actual reading lesson. I worked with her for a year, and by the time we finished, she was reading at a 5th grade level. Fortunately, all of her family dynamics had sorted out by then. It was just a delight to work with her, and it was good to be able to be an adult on the outside of everything that was happening to her, providing support, while at the same time we were teaching her to be a better reader.
What is your favorite children’s book to read? Your favorite adult book?
One of my favorites for children are the Shel Silverstein books, for example, “A Light in the Attic”, because they’re silly, and there’s no stress while reading the book if you don’t get the words right. Also, for little kids, all the Dr. Seuss books. The reading mechanics are great for kids, but also, just the silliness of the books takes the pressure of reading away. One of my favorite adult books is “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Look for a passion in your life where you can help somebody else. Yes, my service adds to these kids’ lives, but it adds to all of the tutors’ lives immensely as well.
How can readers help?
The Children’s Literacy Center is always looking for new tutors, and holds training sessions year-round. To learn more about CLC or find out how you can help, please visit their website: https://www.childrensliteracycenter.org/.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Michael McAdams? Click here to find local volunteer opportunities.
First Grief, Then Service
As a widower, Randy Thomas found himself with too much time on his hands. The loss of his wife of 47 years was devastating and he knew that spending too much time alone wasn’t a good thing. His son, the chief of the local Appleton police department, obviously agreed. He asked his dad to come by the station – maybe there was a way he could help out. Randy, the former manager of an engineering documentation department asked a question: how does the department handle its records? He was shown a massive room filled with file cabinets. Which is when he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. Almost six years later, the cataloging and digitization of the force’s critical documents is close to completion. Managing the slow, tedious work isn’t always fun, but with more than 4,000 hours logged, the sense of accomplishment, community and self-worth that the job delivers means the world to this upbeat octogenarian.
Randy is committed to making a difference in his community and he is today’s Daily Point of Light Award honoree. Points of Light spoke with him about his commitment to service.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I guess in general my reason is a selfish one. I was born in 1934 during the depression, and those were hard times. I feel value as a person and find more satisfaction in doing things for other people. We always volunteered as a family, in church and in our community.
Describe your volunteer role.
All of the department’s records were on hard copy. So I had to record, catalog, scan and assign a record number to each file – and in some cases marrying up cases that belong together. It can be tedious – there can’t be any errors. Two sided documents have to be copied onto single sides – then everything is dropped into the metafile. I usually work about three or four days a week, between three and five and a half hours a day. It’s slow going!
Randy Thomas spends some time with the police department’s therapy dog Blue./Courtesy Randy Thomas
What is the most rewarding part of your volunteer role?
I guess since I lost my wife, it fills a need. It feels good that somebody needs me, gives me a feeling of self-worth. I love working with the officers and the community. It makes me happy to still make an impact.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I learned that sitting around home is not good, Even when I tried to keep busy, most of the time I was by myself. Interacting with people is what it’s all about.
Are there any future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about?
We have a brat fry at the police station on awards night. They always need volunteers for that and it’s coming right up.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I’m a Christian and I truly know that there is more joy to give than to receive. The appreciation you get from other people is just wonderful.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Just do it – don’t wait. I’ve talked to my friends who have lost spouses to tell them how volunteering fills a void in my life. You can still be happy, just in a different way. I wish that more people would give it a try. Instead of complaining about people not coming to see them – they need to go out and do something.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Randy? Click here for Good for local volunteer opportunities.
