Teen Inspires Next Generation to Give Back through American Red Cross Service
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Likhita Thiriveedi. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Likhita Thiriveedi stands out for her service because she joined the American Red Cross at a time when many volunteers took a step back because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a volunteer recruitment champion lead and blood donor ambassador, 16-year-old Likhita is volunteering for the American Red Cross of Northern New England, connecting with hundreds in the region thus far as she recruits volunteers and raises awareness about the organization’s services. Taking her volunteerism one more step, Likhita, a high school junior, founded a Red Cross club at her high school, inspiring the next generation of service leaders to give back.
What inspires you to volunteer?
My desire to make the world a better place. I truly believe change starts with one individual, and especially during the COVID pandemic, I wanted to be that force within my community and support the cause. I’m inspired to give back to the community and use my skills to make a difference.
Describe your volunteerism with Red Cross Northern New England.
Likhita Thiriveedi: “I truly believe change starts with one individual, and especially during the COVID pandemic, I wanted to be that force within my community and support the cause.”/Courtesy Likhita Thiriveedi
I serve in a few different volunteer roles, including:
Volunteer Recruitment Champion Lead: I’m responsible for organizing and facilitating meetings to encourage volunteer interaction.
Blood Donor Ambassador: I recruit volunteers virtually and in-person, in addition to going to blood drives and other community events to raise awareness of the shortage of volunteers and to promote volunteer opportunities.
In addition, I founded a Red Cross club at my high school.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
While volunteering at a blood drive, I met a really excited lady who was donating blood for the first time. I told her the donation could save up to three lives and thanked her for coming in. I explained that every donation is critical because there’s a national shortage, and she said she was inspired to do more and share (the opportunity) with others. That’s when I discovered the widespread impact a volunteer can have. I receive a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction when someone even thanks me, because I am able to make an impact.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Everyone’s efforts in contributing to humanity can make unimaginably large changes. I truly believe you should turn your compassion into action and make a difference. Volunteering makes me think of this quote: “Individually, we are a drop. Together, we are an ocean.”
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the pandemic?
Everything had to go virtual, and with age restrictions, it was tough [to participate], but when the Red Cross started their volunteer recruitment champion role, I immediately signed up. I loved the experience and was promoted. It feels great to make a huge impact recruiting more volunteers even from home, because I was able to reach a widespread audience and grow my connection. My volunteerism is now partly in-person and part remote.
16-year-old Likhita has connected with hundreds in the region thus far as she recruits volunteers and raises awareness about Red Cross services./Courtesy Likhita Thiriveedi
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Empowering.
You’re being honored for your service with volunteers. What notable volunteer stands out to you?
Erica Fuller. She’s a senior volunteer recruitment specialist at Red Cross Northern New England, and she’s a really amazing individual. [Erica] introduced me to this opportunity. She’s so selfless and she loves spending her time helping others.
When you’re not busy volunteering or in school, what do you do for fun?
My favorite hobby is playing soccer, I play for my school team. I also love singing, dancing and playing the piano.
Nine-Year-Old Helps Protect Environment by Recycling Thousands of Batteries
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Rayansh Boddu. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Point of Light.
Rayansh Boddu has been passionate about the earth since he first started learning about nature in the second grade. Now nine years old, Rayansh is working to save the planet through Recycle My Battery, a nonprofit that helps recycle batteries and educate people on its importance. He has been an active volunteer for the past two years, collecting nearly 20,000 batteries and delivering multiple presentations around his community.
Rayansh’s dedicated service earned him a recognition from New Jersey Senator Samuel Thompson last year for his volunteer work within the state. Rayansh is now working on building a smart trash can that would use AI to sort out materials in need of recycling.
Describe your volunteer role with Recycle My Battery.
I’m a vice president. I help place battery bins at multiple locations including temples, sport centers, schools, and libraries. I check with the organizations to see if the batteries bins are full. I work on sorting the batteries properly, and I pack them up and ship them to the FedEx truck for recycling. I also give presentations at schools, libraries, and many institutes to make them aware and give them more knowledge about recycling batteries and why we should. I recently got a citation from the New Jersey Senator for all the hard work I’m doing recycling batteries.
What made you want to get involved in this organization?
When I was in second grade, I started learning more about nature. I made up my mind to become an environmentalist and also a conservation biologist. I would love to save Mother Earth in whatever way I can, even if it is recycling batteries. I started helping [Recycle My Battery co-founder Nihal Tammana] to promote the campaign and get more people get involved across the globe to make it happen.
Why is it so important to recycle batteries?
If you throw a battery in the trash can, it goes to the landfills. When it goes to the landfills, the batteries have toxic chemicals which cause a leakage. When all those toxic chemicals enter the soil where the plants grow, all the food we eat and the water we drink will all be contaminated with chemicals. It can be very harmful. It can also cause explosions. When two batteries meet in a trash bin, they can cause very harmful explosions which can be very, very dangerous to people around that explosion.
Rayansh Boddu receives an award from New Jersey Senator Samuel Thompson for his service with Recycle My Battery./Courtesy Rayansh Boddu
What can people do to help your cause?
They could recycle batteries. This campaign isn’t convincing them to join the campaign. This campaign is convincing them that, either you join it or don’t, but try recycling batteries. Try saving Mother Earth. If you do that, you’ll get something back. It’s high time for us to work on saving earth in different ways if we can. If we start doing something to save earth today, maybe tomorrow, someone else new can join. So it doesn’t matter if anybody joins or doesn’t join this campaign — we just want them to recycle batteries.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I’m a nature lover, so I enjoy every moment of working on Recycle My Battery, which is a great organization. I just want to make earth a better place for all of us. … The citation from the New Jersey Senator was great. That was one of the most rewarding parts of my work. Almost every move I do for Recycle My Battery, I feel so happy for it, because I’m doing everything I can to make sure everybody is safe and earth is safe.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Before, I didn’t know that throwing batteries in the recycling bin is actually very harmless. Even my dad didn’t know. We used to dump them in the trash bin, but later on Nihal told us we should recycle the batteries or else it will be really dangerous. I once went to place a battery bin at a YMCA location, and the people asked what I’m going to get by keeping this box at this location. I explained clearly why YMCA should help with recycling. I also mentioned that people these days do not have enough time to drive and drop off batteries for recycling. If I placed a bin in a gym, people can bring them in when they come to the gym and place it in the box. This way we can have more people recycle batteries in an easy and comfortable way.
Are there any other memories from your time volunteering that really stick out to you?
One time I went to a Telugu Fine Arts Society program. We gave out a small speech saying what Recycle My Battery does, why you should help recycle batteries, and why recycling batteries properly is important. We had so many claps and we had so many gasps. When we told them we educated more than 100,000 people about the batteries, they were really shocked. That was one memory sticking out to me, about people being really shocked and learning more about how you can save earth, what mistakes you’re doing wrong, and how you can correct those. It’s never the wrong time to correct a wrong mistake.
Rayansh Boddu serves Recycle My Battery, a nonprofit that recycles batteries and promotes the importance of doing so./Courtesy Rayansh Boddu
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
It’s high time for all of us to work collectively on saving earth in a different way if we can. People should try saving themselves and saving everybody. If we start doing something to save earth today, maybe tomorrow we’ll see someone else join.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
A small drop in the ocean can make a big difference in the world. I’m just a drop in the ocean and if more people get added to it, it can make a really huge difference. If someone asked me, what would you say about Recycle My Battery? Can you tell me what motto guides your volunteerism? That’s what I would say — a small drop in the ocean can make a really big difference in the world.
No Slowing Down for 79-Year-Old Retiree Serving Lifesaving Support
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Bart Sharp. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
When 79-year-old Bart Sharp makes a commitment, he follows through, in a big way. The Staten Island, New Yorker says before retiring, he worked between 70 and 80 hour weeks at a bank. He’s a veteran who served in the U.S. Army Security Agency. He is the proud father of seven children, and has fostered 17 children, adopting two of them who were born addicted to drugs. And as he approaches his eighth decade, Bart is characteristically doubling down on his commitment to volunteerism.
An AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer for the past seven years, Bart has served withMeals on Wheels to provide nutritional meals to homebound seniors and also withSCORE, offering what’s become lifesaving support for many small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bart is humble about his volunteerism, and says he’s not alone in his service. Bart says he was particularly struck by how many other seniors joined efforts to deliver urgent help during the pandemic.
“Before the vaccines, a lot of people were afraid to go out.” says Bart. “We’d meet at a truck to pick up meals to deliver, and I saw a handful of senior citizens delivering to other seniors. That was really something that inspired me to say, gee, some of these people look older than me. My gosh, she’s out there willing to help deliver meals even though she runs the risk of getting COVID. There were a lot of people out there, they weren’t home taking care of themselves, they were out helping others.”
Bart Sharp: “You don’t have to donate a million dollars, you can donate an hour of your time. Every person who can breathe basically can volunteer. We’re all part of the same human race, we’re all in it together, therefore we should all help each other.”/Courtesy Tami DiCostanzo
Alongside his wife, Bart delivers to up to 20 homes each week, serving up healthy food to seniors in need and providing much needed wellness checks, friendship and occasional laughter during what’s been an unprecedented isolating time for many.
“Giving back seems like the natural thing for me to do. I hate to say this, but it makes me feel good. You get to know your clients, and after awhile, when you don’t see them, you either know they went to a nursing home or God forbid, they died. We’re probably the only person they see all day long sometimes. Some of them try to keep you there for a conversation, it perks them up. I delivered to one client for one year and never saw her, only saw the home health aide. One day, the aide asked if I’d like to meet the client. It was this little frail old woman. The aide introduced me and said, ‘I told you, he looks just like your dead husband!’ (Laughs) It made the woman laugh, it was a good moment.”
In addition to his Meals on Wheels service, Bart is a SCORE mentor and the vice chair of theStaten Island SCORE chapter where he gives business advice and resources using his experience as a CPA. Connecting in-person prior to the pandemic, Bart now provides remote help to business owners and people looking to start a business, including virtual counseling sessions and webinars to help clients navigate COVID-19 relief amid difficult economic times. Bart enjoys helping others, and says because of the switch to virtual help, he’s become a dedicated 24/7 resource for some.
“I have spoken to clients at 8 p.m. at night, Saturdays, Sunday night and morning. Whenever I’m available. We were just down in Florida on vacation, and one day I spoke with a client for 2 1/2 hours. (Laughs) My wife is looking at me, saying, ‘We’re supposed to be on vacation!’
His assistance has helped to keep small business owners afloat during the pandemic, who otherwise may have been lost without guidance.
“One lady, her father owned a soda distributorship in Brooklyn. She was taking over the business and needed help with forms for PPP. She’d call up, I’d tell her what form and banks to get in touch with. I got her a whole list of banks, they gave her loan paperwork, I walked her through the whole process. She was so happy, she got the loan, and she was able to keep the business open. It’s been over two years since I helped her, she’s still up and running.”
Calling him a man of service, fellow SCORE mentor Gerry Harkin says there need to be more individuals like Bart in the world, comparing Bart’s reliable volunteerism to that of a Swiss-made watch.
Bart also volunteers as a SCORE mentor and the vice chair of the Staten Island SCORE chapter, his service has helped support small business owners and entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic./Courtesy Bart Sharp
“Bart’s humanitarian volunteerism has truly helped the many, many elderly sit-ins to whom he delivers nutrition via Meals on Wheels; Bart also provides skilled mentoring expertise on the new business internet facilities for start-up enterprises,” says Gerry. “Bart has the patience of a saint and believes in the good will of everyone he meets. He humbly provides everyone with the solid benefit of his wisdom. Our country needs more ‘Bart Sharp’s’ to sustain our sovereignty.”
“That’s volunteering,” says Bart. “You keep doing it. Every little bit helps. [If volunteering was a] gallon jug, every little drop helps. Volunteering is a drop here, a drop there, and before you know it, the gallon jug has been filled. If you have a thousand people doing it, it fills up more quickly.”
Bart isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and encourages others to give back, in any capacity they can.
“You don’t have to donate a million dollars, you can donate an hour of your time. Every person who can breathe basically can volunteer. We’re all part of the same human race, we’re all in it together, therefore we should all help each other. It’s not a gimme, gimme, gimme world, it’s a give back world also. There are a thousand organizations out there. You have to give back to the poor, help everyone else, you can’t just think about yourself.”
Volunteer Inspires Students to Solve Global Problems Through Computer Science Education
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Mihika Shankar. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Mihika Shankar is the daughter of a software developer, but the 15-year-old Princeton, New Jersey student says she didn’t have much interest in computer science, until one day, that changed. The now high school sophomore is volunteering to get free education out to children around the world, teaching them how to design innovative solutions to real world challenges through programming.
Launching The Coding Foundation in June 2021, Mihika is empowering impoverished youth from around the world by offering free one-on-one mentoring and workshops. Virtually connecting with hundreds of K-12 students from New Jersey to California, Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mihika and her more than 250 volunteer student tutors are fostering a global love for computer science and inspiring students to solve problems through technology.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I’m inspired by my passion for helping other people and also giving to a greater cause bigger than myself. Bigger picture, when you help people out, you help them in the long term.
Describe your volunteerism with The Coding Foundation.
Volunteering enables us to bring awareness and take action on creating solutions toUN Sustainable Development Goalsto create a difference in our world. As founder and CEO, I lead our leadership and team of volunteer interns in fields including finance, marketing, legal and more. Also, I oversee our global events including hackathons, workshops in various programming languages with impoverished schools and courses. We support our programming through grants, sponsorships and fundraising. We’ve partnered with organizations including Balsamiq, Interview Cake, Wolfram Language and Taskade.
Mihika Shankar: “The motto, ‘if not me, then who?’ inspires me to give back to my community. The Coding Foundation brings me joy to continue the work of spreading free, accessible computer science resources worldwide.”/Courtesy Mihika Shankar
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
When we teach students about computer science, they are immensely thankful for what we’re doing and tell us they are always seeking resources to learn computer science and add to their knowledge. The Coding Foundation incites them to change their viewpoint and pursue computer science in the long term. It doesn’t matter whether they have money or what gender or socioeconomic status they are, what matters is their passion and I wanted to spread computer science education out as much as possible in a fun and accessible manner.
What motto guides your service?
The motto, ‘if not me, then who?’ inspires me to give back to my community. The Coding Foundation brings me joy to continue the work of spreading free, accessible computer science resources worldwide.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
At the end of the day, we live in a world where we help one another. Without making sure we’re supporting the world around us, it could fall apart. It’s so fulfilling when you help other people. The way their eyes light up, volunteering is just the most enlightening, fulfilling thing I’ve experienced.
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
We were able to expand virtually and have a bigger impact, especially through digital and social platforms, because of the pandemic. That increased accessibility to computer science resources for students worldwide.
Mihika has helped students in more than 30 countries to develop their skills in programming, inspiring underrepresented youth to design innovative technological solutions to global challenges./Courtesy Mihika Shankar
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Rewarding.
When you’re not busy with volunteering or school, what do you do for fun?
I like to run, read books and spend time with friends and family.
How can readers help?
We welcome new participants for our classes. Please visit our website for more information about how you can join.
Volunteer Firefighter One Call Away When Community Needs Help Most
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Vincent Agresto. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
“To me, volunteering for your neighbors is the greatest thing you can do,” says 37-year-old Vincent Agresto, who is building strong community connections daily as a volunteer firefighter.
Serving with the all-volunteerAlpha Fire Company in State College, Pennsylvania, Vincent volunteers 20 hours each week responding to emergency calls, conducting training and supporting the fire department. “Volunteering is being there for community members in their hardest time and being a rock for them to focus on,” says Vincent, a dedication that proved even more valuable during COVID-19. Helping hundreds thus far with the support of his family, Vincent is inspiring others to give back to their community.
What inspires you to volunteer?
It’s important to be there when people need someone in the community to rely on. When somebody’s in a fire or car accident, they need dependable resources in Central Pennsylvania that come in the form of firefighters and in my opinion, there’s no greater firehouse to volunteer at. [Alpha Fire Company] is a full volunteer membership and [our members] take training and community help with the highest regards.
Describe your volunteerism with Alpha Fire Company.
As a volunteer firefighter, I’ve responded to about 200 calls including fires, car accidents and rescues. I help with personnel and training, work to recruit more volunteers and help to organize charitable events like the holiday Santa runs. I’ve also used my professional skills to help automate some of the fire department’s data and analytics.
Vincent Agresto: “Explaining to kids and their families why it’s important to serve their local community makes me feel like I’m influencing our town to be a little bit more community oriented.” /Courtesy Vincent Agresto
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
It was an interesting conversation with my wife and myself. [We had] major discussions in the house about the risks going out into the public, entering buildings and apartments. We both concluded that the community needed [the help] and it was a risk we were willing to assume during the pandemic. There were definitely more calls, and it was always in the forefront of my mind, the fire department also did a great job helping to mitigate risk with regards to fire protocols, etc. Keeping things running was a big part of my service. Just because there’s a global pandemic doesn’t mean normal accidents, fires just disappear and people still need the support of their volunteer fire department and first responders.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
We participate in events like the Penn StateTHON Dance Marathon, and spend a lot of time giving tours to kids to discuss fire safety and prevention. Kids with pediatric cancer and their families will visit the fire station, they’ll “touch a truck” or ride in the fire truck bucket. Us being there for cancer patients and their families and getting them excited about volunteer firefighting is pretty awesome. It’s hard in today’s society to have that sense of community, especially with the internet, the world is your oyster. Explaining to kids and their families why it’s important to serve their local community makes me feel like I’m influencing our town to be a little bit more community oriented.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
The way my two-and-a-half year old son looks at me when he knows I’m going to the fire house or on a call. He sees cartoons or things about firefighters on TV and he says, ‘That’s what daddy does!’ He’s young but it’s still pretty impactful.
As a volunteer firefighter with the Alpha Fire Company, Vincent Agresto has helped hundreds in his community when they need it most./Courtesy Vincent Agresto
What do you want people to learn from your story?
The biggest surprise has been the age range of volunteers at the fire department, from 18 straight to a 90-something person who’s been [volunteering] for years. Fire department tasks and jobs aren’t always physically demanding, or include running into a burning building. We have logistics that need to be taken care of and we need volunteers to do those things.
Volunteer Serves Scouts of America for Over Two Decades
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Laura Philpot. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Point of Light.
Laura Philpot gave a go at Girl Scouts when she was in third grade, but she ultimately ended up quitting after a year because her Brownie Scout troop didn’t go camping. Years later, a chance encounter with a mom who was looking for someone to lead her daughters’ troop put Laura back on the Girl Scout path — one she still hasn’t gotten off of for over two decades.
Laura serves as a troop leader for Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines, as well as a product sales coordinator for her Chapel Hill, N.C. area, and has held a variety of different council and committee positions over the years. She currently leads her daughter in scouting, and when her son joined Boy Scouts, she began volunteering for them as well. Laura began her service as a merit badge counselor, and is now currently a scout master.
Describe your volunteer role with Girl Scouts.
For the past 20 years, I’ve been a troop leader and also an outdoor trainer for adults. I’m also primarily the product sales coordinator for our area. I do the fall product sales as well as the cookie sale coordination for 50 troops. I have had various other positions within the council and the area, including a national delegate for the council. I’ve been on the recognitions committee, the older girl program committee, and coordinator for camporees. I’m one of those volunteers they say doesn’t know how to say no, so when someone needs help, I’m usually helping out.
What about Girl Scouts made you want to come back every year?
Part of me wanting to be a scout myself. I had been in Brownies, but we didn’t go camping so I decided to do other things. A lot of it is the activities and the opportunities that are afforded to girls in particular — their chance to find their own voice, be a leader, and discover who they are through the program. … It’s been good to see the girls go from being handed a lot of the instruction and information, to them turning the tables on us as adults and being the ones who plan and lead and take charge of what’s going on. That’s been a really nice thing to see with the young women.
Laura Philpot has served as a Girl Scouts volunteer since 1993./Courtesy Laura Philpot
How did you get involved in Boy Scouts?
My son had joined Troop 39 here in Chapel Hill. When he was 11, I became a merit badge counselor. That really focuses on helping the scouts progress through each of their merit badges with the requirements, and being that person they can talk to and bounce ideas off of while they work through what’s required in order to achieve those badges. That’s what I did until 2019, when BSA decided they would enroll girls in the program. They always had a co-ed program called Adventure Crew, but this was throughout their entire Cub Scout and Boy Scout program. At first I was very reluctant … but when my daughter said she really wanted to join [my son] Jason’s troop, I couldn’t argue with my daughter. The troop is fantastic. … After about six months, they asked me to come on as an assistant scout master. Again, being the volunteer who doesn’t know how to say no, of course I said yes. It’s been 12 months now that I’ve actually been the scout master.
Is there any specific program or event you do that’s particularly special for you?
For the girls, there was a program we did called Scouting for the Cure. We worked with UNC hospitals in our cancer center and put on a program. We did it three years in a row where it was council wide and we hosted it here in Chapel Hill. It taught girls about breast cancer screening and how to do self breast exam checks. We created quilting squares for quilt projects, and made pillows for the mammogram office. We also were able to raise money for the hospital that way.
Troop 39 also works with UNC hospitals. They work with the children’s hospital. I’ve been involved for seven of those 13 years [they have been doing a program] called Touch a Truck, which is the third largest community annual event in Chapel Hill. It promotes local businesses as well as community awareness with public work vehicles, buses, SWAT teams, and police departments. It’s a chance for the community to come out and meet these folks, and get to see what their vehicles are all about. … It’s great exposure for community organizations as well as scouting. We partner with UNC Children’s, so we split all money raised between the hospital and the troop. Last year, we raised 32,000 dollars.
Are there any future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about?
Right now, it’s the cookie sales for Girl Scouts. It kicked off last Saturday and runs through mid March. … It’s wonderful that Girl Scouts has embraced technology. We have online sales as well as through Grubhub. It’s something that troops and Girl Scouts of all ages really get excited about. A lot of the younger ones really get into their first sale, the booth sales, and promoting with their social media campaigns. There’s a cookie finder app that anyone can access by putting in their zip code to find who is selling cookies and where they can purchase them.
Laura Philpot, second from left, leads Girl Scout Troop 47 on a trip to Teotihuacan, Mexico./Courtesy Laura Philpot
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I think it really is seeing kids try something new. Things that maybe they were hesitant or afraid of last year, but this year they decided they want to try it — whether it’s repelling down a rock face, or it’s learning a new skill. Lighting a match is something the younger kids are always looking forward to. And then just getting to the point where they’re self sufficient. I can sit in a chair and all of a sudden dinner is in front of me on camping trips. I say we’re going to pack up and they need to be ready by nine o’clock, and everybody has packed their gear and they’re ready to go. The older scouts are helping the younger scouts and leading by example. They’re working as a team. That always makes me smile.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Things you do maybe effect the community around you, but it does become contagious in a way that effects larger community, by setting an example and promoting that sense of service. I think it’s important to understand that you are part of something bigger. What you get, you need to give back tenfold. Contribute to your community.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I have had some comments like, where do you find the time? How do you do all this? It’s not really finding the time, it’s just part of what I do. I want to do it, so I make the time. I work hard during the day with my job, and look forward to my hobby and work equally as hard with my hobby time. If I could do scouting full time, I would. I’m not ready to do that yet. This is the retirement job, for sure. It’s only as hard as you make it is another way to say it. You find the time for things you love, so you make the time to do these things.
Georgia Woman Volunteers to Protect the Environment, Inspire Future Generations
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jacqueline Dost. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
The importance of the environment has been instilled in Jacqueline Dost ever since she was a child. Raised with an awareness of the importance of caring for and protecting the environment from when she was a young girl growing up in Canada learning the “3 R’s” of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, the Carrollton, Georgia woman now serves cleaning up and beautifying her community to set an example for future generations.
“[Growing up], I was raised in a culture that prioritizes the environment,” says Jacqueline. “As a mom, I want to model behavior for my sons, and eventually my grandchildren, that shows the value of service to community.”
Jacqueline has served as the Board Chair of Keep Carroll Beautiful, the local Keep America Beautiful affiliate serving Carroll County, Georgia, for the past three years. Through a range of programs, including education, recycling events, and litter cleanup and beautification projects, Keep Carroll Beautiful works to keep the local community clean, green and beautiful. In her role as Board Chair, Jacqueline leads service projects around the community and takes on a lead role in fundraising, as well as supporting the staff in the running of the organization.
Jacqueline Dost is volunteering to make her community a clean and healthy place to live./Courtesy Jacqueline Dost
The impact of Jacqueline’s service is felt throughout her home community of Carroll County. With her support, Keep Carroll Beautiful and its volunteers have recycled over 50,000lbs of electronics, cleaned up over 5,000lbs of roadside waste and planted over 450 food plants across the county.
For Jacqueline, one of the most rewarding parts of her service has been the strong support the organization receives from the community. The ways community members come together behind a shared goal of keeping the community clean and healthy, whether through financial support or through donating their time and talents as volunteers, is an ongoing reward for the long-time volunteer.
Jacqueline hopes that through her story others can learn that volunteering can take many forms, and everyone can find ways to contribute to serving their community. “Sometimes [volunteering] can mean lending a hand for a few hours during a recycling event, or even just picking up trash while on a walk,” she says. “It is so gratifying to serve! There is a satisfaction in accomplishing projects and seeing the results of your hard work.”
In the upcoming year, Jacqueline is looking forward to continuing to serve. “We have a full calendar planned for 2022,” she says. “We have several [recycling] events scheduled, as well as several beautification projects for public spaces to look forward to.” Keep Carroll Beautiful welcomes volunteers of all ages to help out with its projects, and anyone interested in getting involved can learn more on their website.
Jacqueline’s vision goes beyond the next year, however, and she see’s service as a way to set a good example for future generations, so they can see the value of giving back to their community and protecting the environment for years to come.
High School Senior Volunteers to Share Passion for Reading with Youth in Need
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Brooke Nind. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
“I’ve just always turned to books in times of need,” says 17-year-old Brooke Nind. “My grandma really helped start my love of reading because she loved books too. She got me into the Harry Potter Series. Even though she passed away, I still think of her when I read, for when I need comfort, learning or enjoyment.”
Sharing her love for reading by promoting literacy and reminding people in need that they’re not alone, Brooke, a high school senior from Simi Valley, California, is driving philanthropy through Assisteens of Conejo Valley, a branch of the Assistance League of Conejo Valley that gives teenagers the opportunity to give back. Organizing drives and events for neighbors of all ages facing hardship, Brooke is raising awareness for underserved populations and bettering her community through volunteerism.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I‘ve done a lot of volunteer work relating to literacy. I love to read, so I’ve really enjoyed helping other kids get books or discover their love of reading. Especially during COVID, there’s been so many needs in the community, I’ve enjoyed being able to help out however I can.
Describe your volunteerism with Assisteens of Conejo Valley.
I’ve volunteered with the organization for three years, and became the chair of philanthropy this year. In this role, I choose events we participate in, whether they are drives or events, and then organize the event. I organized a book drive that donated around 1,000 books to low-income and at-risk youth, a diaper drive that donated 800 diapers to moms-in-need, and a school supplies drive that donated 300 packages of supplies to kids. I also facilitate partnerships including with James Storehouse and Safe Passage Youth, and promote the organization around our community. In addition to my volunteerism with Assisteens of Conejo Valley, I volunteer at Thousand Oaks Library, my school’s Key Club, our peer tutoring center, National Honor Society, and as the co-chair of the Habitat for Humanity’s Young Ambassadors of Ventura County.
Brooke Nind is giving the gift of literacy and comfort through volunteerism. Brooke pictured with books collected for a Habitat for Humanity Ventura County Young Ambassadors book drive./Courtesy Brooke Nind
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
I dropped off donated books to James Storehouse, an organization that serves children in foster care. The executive director thanked me for bringing the books, and told me that so many kids would have age appropriate books or start to build their personal book collections because of our donation. Foster kids always have to pick up and move, and often don’t have a lot of things of their own. I know how you can find comfort in knowing someone is thinking about you, and I feel so grateful I’m able to help other people achieve comfort, or feel like they have something of their own.
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
I increased my volunteerism a little bit more because I had more time and was happy to devote it to volunteering. When the pandemic started we focused on drives because we couldn’t have as many in-person events. (That offered) a direct relief route to donate specific items to people in need (struggling with) issues and the financial turmoil of COVID.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
There is so much going on in our world at all times, it’s important to have awareness of issues that are larger than ourselves. Even if we’re fortunate to know certain issues don’t impact us, it’s important to be civically engaged and an active participant in the community to help your neighbors.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Connection.
Brooke pictured with fellow Assisteens of Conejo Valley volunteers. She recently organized a book drive that donated around 1,000 books to low-income and at-risk youth./Courtesy Brooke Nind
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
It’s rewarding at the end of a drive to see how much we’ve collected, and how many people have gotten involved. Seeing connections, whether from people donating or showing up to volunteer, and also the connection with people we’re serving.
When you’re not busy volunteering or in school, what do you do for fun?
(Laughs.) First of all, I read. My favorite book right now is “Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde. I also love creative writing and I love writing poetry. I’m also pretty into advocacy, politics and current events. I keep up with the news a lot.
Teen Brings Smiles to Hospitalized Children Through Personally Hand-drawn Sticker Packs
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Arushi Gupta. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Point of Light.
Arushi Gupta has always been especially sympathetic toward hospitalized children, ever since she suffered from an eye disease as a child that forced her to deal with frequent doctor visits and medications. So when she found herself with free time while quarantining at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to start a business to raise funds for a cause she is passionate about — children’s hospitals.
During the spring of 2020, Arushi began First Ray Designs, an artisanal sticker company that donates all of its proceeds to over 20 different children’s hospitals around the country. The Saratoga, California-based teenager picked up digital design so she could create 11 different sticker packs, over 157,000 of which she has donated to children staying in the hospitals. She also sells custom-made stickers designed off of images submitted by customers.
Describe your volunteer role with First Ray Designs.
First Ray Designs is an artisanal sticker design company. It’s a company I created over quarantine while I was bored and I wanted to do something more artistic, because I’ve always been interested in art. I picked up digital design and began doing more digital art. I started making small, trendy designs that were more relevant in today’s world, like boba, coffee, sneakers, things teenagers like. I decided to cut them out into stickers.
Why did you want to start donating them to children’s hospitals?
I’ve always been very into children at hospitals, because it’s really terrible they have to live their childhood locked up in their room. They’re missing out on a lot of the childhood experiences I think they deserve. The more I thought about it, I was like, why do I care so much about it? I think I realized it was because when I was smaller, I had an eye disease where basically one of the nerves in my brain was paralyzed. It wasn’t as big of a deal as it sounds, but it meant I had to go to the doctor’s office a lot. It became very hectic and tiring to get so much medication and so many injections. As I had to do it more, it became more and more of a pain, and it became such a big burden on me. I think that’s why now I dislike going to the doctor so much. It made me feel even more empathetic to the kids who actually have to stay in hospitals.
Arushi Gupta smiles with some of the sticker packs she has designed to raise funds for children’s hospitals, as well as donate to children staying in hospital./Courtesy Arushi Gupta
Is there a message you hope your stickers are sending the kids?
One of my sticker packs is the cloud pack. On the bottom, it says something along the lines of, ‘Not everyday needs to be a good day. As long as you’re trying your best, you’re doing amazing.’ I think that’s what I was going for. Not everyday is going to be great, but there’s small, little things that can make your day better. It’s always great to see those positive things.
Do you have any goals you want to achieve with First Ray Designs?
One of the biggest things I want to do, which I haven’t been able to do because of COVID, is I want to go visit the hospitals and donate the stickers by my own hand. I hope I am able to do that whenever the times are better. Another thing I want to do is connect more with the children who are receiving the stickers, whether that be online or over Zoom, so I can see how the stickers are impacting them.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Definitely the letters and the pictures I get back. I get back a lot of pictures of children smiling with their stickers, or letters saying I truly made an impact. I get so many letters that say these stickers are genuinely bringing a smile to the kids’ faces, because they were tired of the same Disney and princess stickers, and they enjoy seeing different designs every month.
Why do you think stickers especially resonate with the kids?
When I was a child and had to go to the hospital a lot, I remember at that time, the only thing that used to get me through all those visits was the lollipop and sticker I would get at the end. It really brought a smile to my face and was the reason I wouldn’t cry every time I had to go, so I really wanted to extenuate that fact of hospital visits.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
At the beginning, I really wanted this business to thrive as a business and I wanted to be able to sell stickers. I realized as time went on that the most important thing was the donation aspect of it, how rewarding donating is, and how rewarding it is to see your work actually make an impact. I think my vision changed throughout the process.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I think my community has given me so much and I’m so grateful for everything I have. It feels morally correct to do the same. Also, the more the rewarding feeling comes back to you and the more you feel like you’re actually making a change, the more you want to continue doing it. In the beginning, my incentive was to give back for what I have. I think it later on became that I just want to see other people happy because of me.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
The biggest thing is to not be scared. If you have an idea, just go for it. I think that’s been my mentality all of high school — that whenever I had something I thought I wanted to turn into reality, I just did it. After that, you have no regrets. If anyone wants to start a business or wants to do anything to help your community, just do it, because there’s no harm.
True Reward of Success is Giving Back to Community, Says Atlanta Volunteer
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Solomon Seaborn. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Solomon Seaborn pedaled faster and faster on his road bike, easily eclipsing the other kids on his annual long distance ride across the state of Georgia. When Solomon got to the front of the pack, he says he learned a lesson that has since shaped his path in life.
“I remember I was riding, and I was so pumped that I finally got good at what I did,” says Solomon. “I kept going ahead and trying to get faster. My coach pulled me to the side, he’s from New York so he’s very blunt. He said, ‘Yo, what are you doing? You’re not here to show how good you are and have a good time. A lot of leadership is done at the back of the line, especially with the kids here. This is what a leader is.’”
It was in that moment that the course was set for Solomon’s leadership, the Atlanta, Georgia 29-year-old’s community investment since far surpassing the lead he’d taken on the ride that day. As a Hands On AtlantaCivic Fellow Leader, Solomon was connected to the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, where he’s literally gotten his hands dirty as he gives back to the community that helped to raise him.
Solomon volunteers at WAWA’s outdoor activity center where he maintains trails, plants, and works at the site’s urban garden, planting and harvesting rows of tomatoes, carrots and more to introduce the community to healthier eating. According to Solomon, empowering underrepresented youth and others to better understand nutrition and food sources, helping to curb food insecurity and education inequity, is similar to the critical engagement he received as a child himself growing up in West Atlanta.
As a volunteer with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Solomon Seaborn is giving back to the community that raised him./Courtesy Solomon Seaborn
“When I grew up, there was a lot of people, whether from BRAG Dream Team, the Boys & Girls Club, Teach For America, KIPP Thru College or just many individuals and educators who volunteered their time and went above and beyond. Some of it didn’t stick until afterwards, but kids need more exposure to role models like that. When you are constantly serving and meeting so many people, you get a chance to really impact lives.”
Answering the call for urgent meal distributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Solomon dug in to advocate for essential work being done as underserved populations struggled even more, hardships that resonated with him personally.
“This world is so cruel the poorer you are. It’s kind of hard to think about as a kid, how [poverty] affected my mom. With [being] impoverished, there comes a lot of hardships, a lot of decisions have to be made that as a kid, it’s not helpful to make, but they’re things that make you stronger. I’m thankful for the spirit of reflection and spirit of my faith. It was a blessing at the end of day that I was able to come through and now help others.”
Now sharing his blessings with others, Solomon describes recruiting colleagues, fraternity brothers from across the state, and families to get involved in service. Noting how many outdoor activities take place in the suburbs, Solomon says his service at WAWA gives urban residents the opportunity to take nature walks, enjoy the garden, and bigger picture, learn more about their history and how to involve themselves in the future of their community.
“It’s rewarding seeing people enjoy the space. Not just kids, but adults, college students. These random strangers get to know each other around a project (at WAWA,) and accomplish a goal. You get in, they get bit by mosquitoes because no one ever reads the “proper attire” email we send out (laughs). It’s just good to see (a project) done and see it thrive. These people know they made an impact, that’s pretty powerful to me in itself.”
In addition to his volunteerism with WAWA, Solomon has served with Whitefoord’s food insecurity initiatives, and other organizations including Hands On Atlanta, Atlanta Public SchoolsandAtlanta Community Food Bank. Solomon’s caring nature lifts people up and betters his community, says Tim Adkins, director of marketing and communications for Hands On Atlanta, his service offering hope for many.
Answering the call for urgent meal distributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Solomon dug in to advocate for essential work being done as underserved populations struggled even more./Courtesy Solomon Seaborn
“He’s so reliable and just genuinely cares about helping,” says Tim. “He drops what he’s doing and wants to help because he’s making a difference and knows quite frankly, the community needs his help. When he goes to serve he goes with a smile and he cares about the people he’s serving. The folks respond well to that.”
Echoing the advice from his coach all those years ago, Solomon calls his service the definition of true leadership, and says he’s bringing others along for the ride.
“People are willing to help, [you just have] to bring them all together. True leadership doesn’t look like getting good, getting successful, getting wealthy and showing off. True success, true leadership, means you’re giving back. Maybe you buy a house in the neighborhood you grew up in. Maybe there was trauma there, but leadership means you’re going back to help others. I’m much more impactful if I’m leading in the group.”
