Sisters Spread the Love of Soccer and Comradery to Kids Around the World
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honorees Sydney and Ashley Mednik. Read their story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Sisters 15-year-old Sydney and 13-year-old Ashley Mednik co-founded Pass with Purpose to provide soccer uniforms to children around the world. The duo work with youth soccer clubs across the United States to collect used soccer jerseys, shorts and socks to form full uniforms and donate them to children are interested in forming soccer teams but struggle to find the funding.
The sisters recently collected over 1,000 soccer jerseys, shorts and socks to be sent to Zambia. They’re in the middle of another donation and are excited to see how many donated items they’ll be able to distribute to children and families in the near future.
What inspires you to volunteer?
Ashley: We first became involved with Pass with Purpose in 2022. We always have known how lucky we were to have so much and to be so fortunate, so we decided to give back old soccer uniforms to kids who aren’t as fortunate as we are, who can’t afford them. We wanted to share the game of soccer; the way we’re used to playing on a team. There was also a really good way to reuse the uniforms around the world and there were so many soccer uniforms going to waste because usually players get new uniforms every two years. We needed to find somewhere to bring our cause to life, and that’s when we decided to start Pass with Purpose.
Tell us about your volunteer roles with Pass with Purpose.
Sydney: The main mission of Pass with Purpose is to hold collection drives with youth soccer clubs locally. We collect a bunch of soccer uniforms. After each of our drives, we put together a plan on where to donate them and then we figure out how we’re going to do our next drive. Right now we’re receiving uniforms and once this drive is done, we’ll pick them up, fold them and we communicate with our contacts in the area where we’re donating them. So we’re sort of always collecting, planning for our next drive and donating them to a community in need when we can. We’re really excited to expand.
Sydney and Ashley Mednik work with youth soccer clubs near their Potomac, Maryland, community to collect used soccer jerseys, shorts and socks to form full uniforms and donate them to children who can’t afford them or who struggle with forming soccer teams.
Our first drive that we held was for athletes in Zambia because we already had a contact there so it was obviously easier for us to go to that area. We target international areas around the world where there’s a lot of kids playing soccer; where the sport is very popular. Right now we’re looking to hold our next drive for Costa Rica and Guatemala because that’s where we have a lot of contacts. We look anywhere where we can get the uniforms to kids who would appreciate them the most.
Ashley: Once we collect the jerseys from our collection bins, we take them home and we sort the jerseys by color, size and by type — whether it’s like jersey shorts or socks — so we can distribute them easier.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Sydney: It’s knowing that these kids get to play on teams, because before, they didn’t have the jerseys so they couldn’t really play on teams. But now that they do, it is so special to see that they get to play. We’ve been playing soccer for like literally our whole lives. So it’s a really special thing to us. It’s also a special thing that we share with each other as sisters. And we just want to share it with as many kids around the world because it’s such a great sport, and it makes us so happy to play.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Ashley: We know it’s so easy to make a positive impact on kids’ lives. It just takes time and effort. It’s so easy. And once we got the pictures and videos back of all the kids playing in the uniforms and laughing and having fun, it made us feel so good knowing we made a difference in their lives. So it was just so special to see.
Sydney: We all know how fortunate we are. Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted how much access we have to what we think are such basic things that we have access to. But to these kids, it makes all of the difference. Like my sister said, to see the smiles on their faces really just puts a smile on my face too. Seeing how happy these kids are, it makes us feel so much more grateful. That’s something I’ve learned from this experience so far.
Do you have any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Ashley: Just that it’s so easy to help. You can gather a lot of passionate people that are willing to donate or help your cause. It’s like a really good end result. And all it takes is time and commitment. It’s so worth it at the end of the day, even if it’s like a small simple thing like you’re donating old jerseys. If you just find something that you’re passionate about and help others, it’s so easy to just build off of that.
Sisters 15-year-old Sydney and 13-year-old Ashley Mednik co-founded Pass with Purpose to provide soccer uniforms to children in need around the world.
Do you have a favorite memory with Pass with Purpose?
Sydney: My personal favorite experience from doing this nonprofit is a really unique one. My soccer coach’s wife was visiting Zambia. It had nothing to do with soccer. And as she got out of her tour bus, she was greeted by a ton of little girls wearing Bethesda soccer uniforms, which we had donated. And she was happy to see that and she sent us pictures. It made us so happy because it was like all of our work was being put into actual kid’s lives and they were so happy and proud to wear the uniforms. Especially because they were girls since typically in other countries soccer is a more male-dominated sport. To see these girls get the equal opportunity to wear the jerseys as the boys made us feel so happy because obviously even in the US, we’re still fighting for equality.
Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.
Sydney: We’re currently in the middle of a drive, so we’re excited to see how many uniforms we get donated. We’ll just work on our next drive and donate to other places. We’re already getting so many more uniforms, it’s projected to be around like two times the amount that we had in our last drive, so it’s gonna be really great to send those off to the kids.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sydney and Ashley? Find local volunteer opportunities.
Fifteen Years of Service as a Volunteer Firefighter and Safety Educator
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jerod Kampwerth.Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
For the past 15 years, Jerod Kampwerth has displayed the utmost strength, dedication and solidarity with his community through his role as a volunteer firefighter with the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District. Volunteering over 200 hours annually, Jerod is passionate about keeping community members safe, rescuing those in times of desperation and educating those with valuable knowledge about what to do in an emergency.
The Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District, which relies entirely on volunteer staff, covers a vast area of 78 square miles in Illinois and serves a population of 5,000 residents. Jerod’s contributions, along with those of the other volunteer firefighters he works with, have been instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of his community. Recently promoted from captain to assistant chief, Jerod’s role within the department has expanded significantly. In this new command position, he will oversee most fire, rescue and EMS calls, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently.
“I actually just got named the assistant chief at the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District, which will change my roles a little,” Jerod says. “But for the most part, we as a department respond to any type of emergency we’re called upon – whether that’s EMS, rescue, hazmat, fire or anything someone doesn’t know how to take care of. With my new role, I’ll be more on the leadership command side of things, which means looking at more of the big picture and giving direction for people to go in and do certain tasks.”
Despite his increased responsibilities, Jerod remains hands-on and ready to perform rescue tasks when manpower is limited. “Because of being a volunteer department in a small rural area, you never know who’s going to show up or how many people you’ll have,” he explains. “So this doesn’t mean I won’t still have opportunities to go in and use my skills. I’ll just use them differently than I have been used to.”
As assistant chief, Jerod is not only a leader in emergency situations but also plays a crucial role in the training and overall management of the department. His experience and expertise are invaluable in preparing new volunteers and ensuring that all members of the department are well-equipped to handle the challenges they face – which range from staying calm under extreme stress, utilizing specific skills and expertise, and communicating with those they’re serving during crisis.
“I always wanted to be a firefighter, from the time I was young,” Jerod reflects. “Like any kid, I saw the trucks, lights and sirens, and I wanted that as a kid. When I got older, I was working on the grounds crew at schools, maintaining ball fields and working the events. I always thought to myself: there’s a big crowd of people here and if something happens, am I just going to be sitting here with my hands in my pockets not knowing what to do?”
Jerod started by asking whether the crew could have a CPR class to train himself and others in his role what to do in such an emergency situation. From there, he found he wanted to do more. He joined a volunteer department where he was living at the time, which started his tenure in the fire department. After he got married, he moved to Highland and started with the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District… and the rest is history.
When asked what the most rewarding part of his work is, Jerod says, “Being able to change someone’s day. We are called to their worst day, whatever that may be – whether it’s a pipe leaking or a vehicle or house fire. Being able to help them feel like it’s not the worst day of their life is what we do. We try to communicate they’ll be okay and that we’re there to help. That’s probably the most rewarding part of it.”
Beyond his primary duties, Jerod also dedicates significant time to community engagement and education. He actively participates in local fire safety awareness programs, visiting schools and community centers to educate residents on fire prevention and emergency preparedness. His efforts in public education help instill a sense of responsibility within the community, empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent fires and respond effectively in emergencies.
“What I notice is that whenever people are having their worst day, the number one thing they can do is try to stay calm and think clearly through the situation,” Jerod shares. “We show up and try to get them to calm down so that they can think clearly. That’s one thing people can do during heightened situations – practice staying calm and making decisions that help stabilize the situation. That helps us as responders a lot.”
Jerod has always felt a call to help others in emergencies, but he feels especially passionate about volunteer firefighting. “I haven’t gotten to where I have without someone helping me along the way – whether it was family, friends or total strangers. That’s why I want to do this; to make someone’s day better when it feels like their worst,” he says.
Jerod shares that around 70% of the country is covered by volunteer fire departments. “We’re kind of a dying breed,” he says. “Not many people want to do this. The departments are struggling to find people to do this. So if anyone has a specific skill and is able to do this, I think it’s important. And that goes for any volunteer organization out there – they all need people to step in and help.”
Jerod’s 15 years of service, countless hours of volunteering and recent promotion to assistant chief are incredible testimonies to how deeply he cares about the strength and safety of his community. But he admits that he could not have reached any of these accomplishments alone: “I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today in the fire service without the help of my mentors – different chiefs, training centers and people who trained me. Those people helped me be who I am, and where I am, today.”
A Tireless Advocate for Food Security in Her Maine Community
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Mary Fernandez. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Since June 2022, Mary Fernandez has been a vital volunteer at the Good Shepherd Food Bank warehouse in her Maine community, devoting over 270 hours to ensuring that food reaches those who need it. At Good Shepherd Food Bank, Mary’s efforts are focused on packing boxes for the Community Health and Hunger Program and the Commodities Supplemental Food Program. She works closely with employees to stock shelves with products that she and other volunteers pack.
Mary also assists special needs volunteers, providing them with the help they need to contribute effectively. Additionally, she sorts produce, ensuring that those in good condition are packed into boxes for food pantries while the rest are sent to pig farmers. Mary’s commitment extends further through her participation in the Feed Maine Telethon, where she takes calls from donors eager to support the cause. She dedicates her Fridays to this work, spending two-hour blocks of time each week at the warehouse.
Mary also volunteers at the Caring Community Cupboard, her local food pantry. As the assistant to the president of the pantry, she handles the ordering and receiving of products. Mary is also the Program Coordinator for the Adopt-A-Shelf program, managing contact with donors, clerical duties and shopping for the program.
Her involvement doesn’t stop there; she serves on the Board of Directors, attends meetings every four months and tends to three community gardens she planted for the pantry. Mary stocks shelves, acts as a shopping buddy for patrons, assists with fundraisers and sorts and shelves donations. Her time commitment to the pantry is approximately 50 hours per month, with additional hours spent on special events and activities to ensure the pantry operates smoothly and effectively.
Read on to find out why Mary is so passionate about food security and what drives her to keep volunteering.
Tell us about your volunteer role.
I first began volunteering at the Good Shepard Food Bank in June of 2022, where I immediately knew I had found my niche. I really enjoy interacting with the other volunteers and employees. We all work well together stocking shelves, and packing boxes and bags. We do this for a couple of programs. One is called the Commodities Supplemental Food Program and the other is the Community Health and Hunger Program. We fill those boxes with much needed food for those experiencing food insecurity. We also cull fresh produce which we share with other local food pantries.
Mary Fernandez packs a box of food for the Commodities Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
Caring Community Cupboard is the second location I volunteer with, and it’s a food pantry in my community. I’ve been there since March of 2023, and again, we have a wonderful group of volunteers who show up Mondays and Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, we welcome our regular patrons to the pantry. Each patron has a shopping buddy and we help them shop, we share recipes, we’re eager to explain how to cook fresh veggies they may not have had before and maybe welcome them with the only smiling face they’ve encountered that day. We provide a welcoming atmosphere to everyone who comes in with absolutely no judgment.
What’s interesting is getting to see both sides of this. At Good Shephard, I’m packing boxes and bags that go out to food pantries and medical facilities. But then I get to interact with patrons receiving the food at Caring Community Cupboard. I’m so appreciative of the opportunity to help supplement their food needs.
Why is this food security so important to you?
I have really enjoyed watching strangers from very different backgrounds come together as a team around a common cause, which is to help with the food insecurity issue so many people in our state are living with. I really appreciate all that Good Shephard does for our state, and what the Caring Community Cupboard does for our community. I feel blessed to be part of these causes.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
When I first retired, I was looking for opportunities I might like to pursue during retirement. I was working at the School of Food and Agriculture at the University of Maine and I was aware of the food insecurity issues all around us. I decided to look for food-related volunteer opportunities around me, and I knew a little bit about Good Shephard because they were always in the news!
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
For the Caring Community Cupboard, I’m very excited for an ongoing expansion of the food pantry. It will provide a bigger space for our patrons and volunteers that may allow us to do other activities with them. That’s in the very beginning stages; the other part will start next week, and I’m really excited about that.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
For me, part of it is getting involved. It’s such an eye-opener when I see so many patrons come to a food pantry for a variety of reasons, to get food that is necessary to supplement their food needs. But it also reminds us how lucky we are when we can simply go home and sit down to a meal, and how lucky we are to live in communities with these types of supports when we’re in harder times. Sometimes it’s taken for granted. As basic as it sounds, food is not readily available to everyone. Without the help of food banks, food pantries and food volunteers, the food insecurity issue would be worse, and we need to remember that no one should go hungry.
Mary Fernandez harvests vegetables at the community gardens for the Caring Community Cupboard Food Pantry.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I can see firsthand how bad the food insecurity issue is, and how a community of volunteers can make such a difference to so many people – it’s such an awesome feeling.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
For me personally, I’d said I wanted to do something related to food, and I found that. But it wasn’t until I started volunteering that I realized how bad the issues really were, and just how many people were affected. Volunteering doesn’t necessarily have to take a lot of time. You can help with a fundraiser for a day, or volunteer for a couple of hours in the evening. It can be as much or as little time as you have to give. I want to believe that everyone has some time in their week or month to contribute to whatever interest suits them.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
During one of our fundraisers, which was a cereal drive, we filled my vehicle! I saw so many generous people from the community come forward to contribute box after box of cereal to help the food pantry provide a very important staple to our patrons.
At the pantry, we have a local store that donates to us regularly and then we have individuals stop in regularly to donate. We have both, and for that we’re so lucky. We do a number of fundraisers throughout the year, and we do pretty well! Right now, we are serving about 200 families every Tuesday. And each family is made up of several people. We have very committed volunteers who enjoy coming in to volunteer, and everyone is so pleasant and welcoming and inviting to our patrons.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Mary? Find local volunteer opportunities.
Being Present Gives Seniors a Boost
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jon Nichols. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Jon Nichol’s grandparents have always been a big part of his life. Through his time with them, he recognized how much his presence made a difference in their daily lives. Seniors often feel the effects of isolation when they live far from family or have mobility issues that keep them at home.
A year ago, at 30 years old, Jon moved from his home state to Greenville, SC. He works remotely with his two “secretaries,” cats Callie and Benito, doing regulatory work on electric and gas utilities for a consulting firm. As he began building his life in his new home, he wanted to bring joy to others in the way he had been for his grandparents.
He responded to an ad for an Adopt a Senior Friendly Visit Hospice Volunteer with Providence Care and, alongside his ice hockey games, he added visits with residents of local care homes to his weekly schedule. Not only do seniors look forward to seeing him, but visits have become a cherished part of Jon’s weekends and something he and his fiancé can do together, highlighting the value in human connection.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I grew up in a small family, and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. They played a significant role in my upbringing and had a profound impact on my life. I had a deep sense of gratitude for the time we spent together and the values they taught me—compassion, selflessness and generositybeing some of those.
As they aged, I became their caregiver in many ways. That experience opened my eyes to challenges faced by aging. When my grandfather passed away, we moved my grandmother to assisted living, and I made a point to engage with other residents. A simple conversation or bringing them flowers could give them so much joy. That got me interested in volunteering, specifically with seniors.
When I moved, I found myself wanting a volunteer role that involved that population, because I knew I could make a difference in their lives. Since I wasn’t able to visit my grandma as often, I wanted to get involved in some way. So I did a quick internet search and saw an opportunity with Providence Care.
Tell us about your volunteer role with Providence Care.
I volunteer most weekends with my fiancé. We usually visit the same two to three seniors. That really allows us to develop a relationship with them and sometimes even with their families. Whatever I do to bring a smile to their faces, my fiancé multiplies that by 10.
Each visit, we go to these assisted living facilities and visit residents for 30 minutes to an hour. There are two goals. One is to make sure the senior is physically and mentally doing well, and there are no new or concerning medical symptoms that need to be passed along to staff. The second is to brighten their day.
Jon enjoys making assisted living residents smile on the trip to a farm.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I think the most rewarding part is getting to know them and hearing their stories. A lot of these seniors have lived through really incredible times, and they have amazing stories to tell. They just need someone to be there and to listen. I also enjoy making them laugh. It really feels like I’m having an impact.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
We talk to them a lot about what their favorite memory or food or hobbies are, because it always sparks conversation. Doris, one of the first seniors we visited, was a sweet lady with a quick wit. When we asked her where she was from, she would say, Joy-zee (New Jersey). She always told us she was a Joy-zee girl.
We learned that she loved horses and used to work at a track. Providence Care then coordinated a visit for her and other residents from the facility to visit a horse farm based on that information. I was able to go, and Doris’ son was there as well. It was a great experience spending time with the horses. Sadly, she passed shortly after that. I was glad we were able to bring her joy towards the end of her life.
We learned that another resident was formerly a nurse, and she loved nursing. Providence set up a celebration of her nursing career and brought some nurses in for a small ceremony. They do things like that for veterans as well.
Is there something people should know about your role, or hospice in general?
Working with seniors really just takes a simple act of kindness. You don’t have to be a great conversationalist, a medically trained professional or a comedian. You just have to be there to listen and make them feel valued. That appreciation and resulting joy is immeasurable. Isolation impacts their physical and mental health. Spending time with them goes a long way in sustaining their health and making their experience more enjoyable.
The second part of working in the hospice area is that you quickly see that the staff is generally overworked and under-resourced. That’s probably true in the medical field in general but especially in elderly care. Your visits also benefit staff and even the families that might not be able to be there as much as they would like.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Volunteering is about figuring out your sense of purpose or where your passions lie—the environment, food drives, clothing insecurity, etc.—and trying to gain perspective on what people in your community are going through. Then, it’s a matter of figuring out how you can make a positive impact on them.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
The generation of seniors now has given so much to our society. We have a societal duty to give back to them during their greatest time of need. A simple act of kindness can transform an older person’s day and improve their quality of life.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Jon? Find local volunteer opportunities.
Retired Teacher Finds Three Ways to Support the Community
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Charlotte Soracoe. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Charlotte is a 73-year-old retired teacher who is now dedicating her time to several nonprofit organizations in Baltimore. Charlotte taught for 31 years at Baltimore County Public Schools, another 10 years at a local community college and another five years at several nursery schools. After Charlotte retired in 2015, she began volunteering for The Casey Cares Foundation, Meals on Wheels and the Helping Up Mission, as well as her church. She loves to travel, but that hasn’t gotten in the way of helping others. Just this year, Charlotte volunteered over 500 hours at Casey Cares alone.
The Casey Cares Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission to improve the lives of critically ill children and their families. The organization started in Baltimore and now operates several mid-Atlantic states, Florida and parts of the Midwest. Casey Cares volunteers help uplift the spirits of hospitalized children and their families through care packages, movie nights, live shows, sporting events and other local excursions. This adds a personal, caring touch to an otherwise difficult and emotional experience.
What inspires you to volunteer?
God has given me a great life and it’s my time to give of myself. I love children and was inspired by Casey Cares’ mission to provide uplifting activities and birthday gifts to critically ill children and their families as a way to make a harrowing experience better. I’m also inspired by the effort put in by people who want to improve their lives through education.
Tell us about your various volunteer roles.
We help the families while their kids are being treated. We work with children with sickle cell anemia, cancer and other serious diseases. We provide resources such as tickets for Baltimore Orioles games, zoo visits, and a movie night where we provide popcorn and pajamas. In fact we call ourselves the “Pajama People.” We have collected and donated over 10,000 pairs of pajamas to local hospitals. The pajamas are mainly for the hospitalized kids, but if the parents or family has come from out of state, we also have adult pajamas for them since many of the parents never leave their kids’ sides.
Charlotte Soracoe assembling Birthday Blast boxes filled with toys for critically ill kids. /Courtesy Casey Cares Foundation
I am in charge of the Casey Cares birthday program, Birthday Blast. There are currently about 1,200 kids in the program and I’m in charge of making sure each child receives a birthday gift. This year we are giving them toys such as a small basketball hoop and ball, or teddy bears. I package the gifts and send out 30 to 40 gifts each week. In August, I will be helping with a 5K fun run to raise funds for Casey Cares.
We aren’t as big as Make-a-Wish but we do what we can locally, based on what the family is interested in. Anything to make the experience more normal. We follow the family for a year, whether the child is discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital or passes away. I volunteer about five hours each week with Casey Cares.
Since 2015, I’ve also been active with Meals on Wheels. I’ve volunteered at least once a week to deliver meals from our local distribution center. Meals-on-Wheels does so much more than deliver meals. We provide companionship to help promote independence for seniors who wish to stay in their homes. These folks often have nobody to talk to. Many suffer from loneliness, anxiety and depression because of the isolation.
I also volunteer at Baltimore’s Helping Up Mission, which supports people living with addiction and homelessness. I’m part of their tutoring program. I mainly tutor math but sometimes English. Our emphasis is on helping people get their GED.
I am also part of an outreach group with my church. We do various service projects in the community throughout the year. We recently did an ice cream social at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA), a mental health residential facility for children up to 18 years old. The kids loved the ice cream social!
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I love seeing the work that I put in yield results. I enjoy volunteering at Casey Cares, but there I’m mostly in the office with very little interaction with the pediatric patients and their families.
I really enjoy Meals on Wheels. The people look forward to us coming and spending a bit of time with them. I care about them, and they care about me!
I also love my tutoring work. I feel that education is the key to moving on in the world. My tutoring students are mostly unhoused individuals. Sometimes they were dealt a blow or they made some poor decisions, but they are working hard to get back on their feet, starting with an education. I’ve had students comment to me that they wish they hadn’t wasted their high school years. They regret not having gotten their high school diploma, but they are committed to it now.
Charlotte Soracoe, center, showing birthday cards to be packed in Birthday Blast boxes with volunteers Wendy Silver, right, and Terry Tacka, left. /Courtesy Casey Cares Foundation
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Even the little things matter! I have learned through Meals On Wheels that there are so many isolated seniors. They are determined to stay in their homes, where they want to be, but rely on outside help. They are starved for companionship. People can change as they get older. I have learned the importance of never giving up on them! I have also become much more aware of people who are isolated and desperately need connection.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Talk to people who volunteer to get ideas for what to do. Go online and Google “volunteer opportunities near me” and then follow your heart. Go where you feel you have skills to add. You’ll come up with so many ways to help!
What do you want people to learn from your story?
It’s important to give of yourself. If you are blessed in any way or you’ve had good things happen to you, it behooves you to lend a helping hand. You will be rewarded 100% more. As you get older, it is also important to feel that you matter.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Charlotte? Find local volunteer opportunities.
11-Year Old Works to Save Water and Recycle Batteries
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Pavit Thakkar. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Jersey City native Pavit Thakkar loves to play chess and piano, and will enter seventh grade this fall. But Pavit is no ordinary 11-year-old. He works tirelessly to promote battery recycling and responsible water use, donating over hundreds of hours of volunteer time in the past several years for two nonprofits, Recycle My Battery and Save Drop.
Recycle My Battery provides convenient drop off points for household batteries that would otherwise end up in landfills. Currently, the organization has 865 used battery donation bins all across the United States. With those bins, Recycle My Battery has saved over 500,000 batteries from polluting our soil and waterways. Recycling batteries allows battery manufacturers to reuse the materials. The Recycle My Battery efforts contribute to several U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. These include goals for clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.
Save Drop’s mission is to raise awareness of water waste and to promote practical solutions such as household recirculation pumps that eliminate water wasted while waiting for the shower to heat up. Save Drop is working to mandate the use of recirculating pumps and to offer tax credits to households that install them.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I was doing research for a school project when I stumbled on the Recycle My Battery website. I read about the dangers that batteries can cause to the environment, so I was inspired to join. Recently I received an invitation from the parents of the Recycle My Battery founder to join Save Drop as a social media ambassador.
I believe volunteering is important. We need to support our community as it supports us. I volunteer for Recycle My Battery and Save Drop because I am passionate about solving environmental issues. When I learned about environmental causes in my area, I was inspired to join the efforts.
Pavit Thakkar, standing in front of all the battery boxes being sorted before shipping them to the recycling facility. /Courtesy Urvesh Thakkar
I’ve been working with Recycle My Battery for about a year and a half, and with Save Drop for four months. My role with Recycle My Battery has two streams. One is to place battery collection boxes at schools, community centers, libraries, and United Nations JSPF (Joint Staff Pension Fund) offices, where my parents work. I asked my dad to connect and propose the idea of placing a battery drop-off bin at the UN JSPF offices. Recently, we placed battery collection boxes at the Bayonne Public Library.
My second role with Recycle My Battery is to conduct presentations and do outreach about battery recycling. I created a short PowerPoint presentation that I use to reference whenever I discuss the initiative with prospective locations.
We do presentations at schools to educate people about the importance of battery recycling and onboard more kids to help with this initiative. In the past, we used to ship full collection boxes to our partner, Call2Recycle which is the biggest recycling organization in the USA and Canada. However, the cost of shipping has gone up so much so now we take the batteries to Home Depot or Staples and reuse the collection boxes at our collection locations. I collect the donated batteries on a regular basis. Whoever places a battery box at a specific location is responsible for emptying it. I am responsible for about 10 battery boxes.
I am responsible for the social media outreach for Save Drop. I develop and execute social media marketing campaigns to promote water conservation. Almost all of my work with Save Drop is through social media, but I also ask people to join the campaign and sign petitions.
Save Drop’s mission is to reduce water waste and one way we do it is to promote the use of recirculation pumps. When you take a shower, a lot of water goes down the drain before it becomes hot enough to shower in. We have a petition about mandating recirculation pumps that would prevent this water from literally going down the drain. We are also encouraging the government to give tax breaks to homeowners who install these recirculation pumps. I encourage everyone to sign our petition!
What are your long-term goals?
I’m trying to expand my reach to bigger and larger communities for both organizations, especially Save Drop because it is a new organization. I plan on doing more presentations at schools for Save Drop. My goal for Recycle My Battery is to expand the number of collection boxes and increase community awareness.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Definitely the most rewarding part and one of my favorite memories is the Recycle My Battery Guiness World Record attempt. Along with my team, I set a world record for the longest line of end-to-end batteries in October 2023. We beat the previous record by around 30,000 batteries!
Pavit Thakkar, left, in a red jacket, speaking about Recycle My Battery to raise awareness about proper battery disposal. /Courtesy Urvesh Thakkar
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Even the smallest actions like placing a battery collection box in convenient locations can have a big impact, and small efforts to save water can make a huge difference. I have learned about becoming a leader, reaching out to people and networking. I saw how the power of community makes change. I also learned how teamwork can achieve a huge goal.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Volunteering helps create a stronger and more connected community. It makes a positive impact on the world and everyone around you. It helps us understand the needs of others and respect the earth. By working together and supporting each other, we can solve problems more effectively and create a better environment for everyone.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
I want people to realize that everyone can make a difference. No matter how small, it matters! By getting involved we can collectively work toward a more sustainable and better future.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I hope my story can show that taking initiative and working together can lead to a lot of positive changes. It’s also a lot of fun working with these initiatives. I enjoy it and I hope other people can realize that too!
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Pavit? Find local volunteer opportunities.
One Woman’s Journey of Preparing New Yorkers of All Ages for Success in Life
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Elsa C. Lorenzo. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
New Yorker Elsa C. Lorenzo exemplifies the spirit of selfless volunteerism, dedicating her time and energy to assist individuals at nearly every stage of life. Over the past four years, she’s amassed nearly 1,500 volunteer hours through her varied and impactful efforts.
For starters, each week, Elsa can be found tutoring young children who struggle with reading, helping them grasp basic phonetic sounds and sight words essential for reading proficiency and academic success. Her devotion to this volunteer effort has transformed the lives of 40 elementary-age students, setting them on a path toward a brighter academic future.
In addition to her work with young children, Elsa serves as a mentor for young adults preparing to enter the workforce. Through I’Raise International, she has mentored five young adults, offering guidance and serving as a positive role model. Her efforts have helped these individuals navigate the often-daunting process of starting their careers, providing them with the tools and confidence they need to succeed. Elsa’s service extends to JFK International Airport, where she aids adults and families as part of the Traveler’s Aid program. She has assisted over 10,000 passengers seeking travel information, ensuring they have the support they need for a smooth and stress-free travel experience.
And as a member of the RSVP newsletter team, Elsa writes informative articles for her fellow AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. She has collaborated on more than 20 articles, highlighting the work of fellow volunteers and promoting national service in New York City. Finally, Elsa’s passion for education and financial literacy is evident in her work with the Fresh Air Fund. She has given three career presentations to middle school students.
Read on to find out more about Elsa’s efforts and why she finds volunteering so important.
Tell us about your volunteer roles.
The one that I volunteer the most with is Reading Partners. During the school year, which is from October to May, I volunteer about seven to eight hours a week with them. I’ve been with them since October of 2018. It’s just so gratifying to listen and see these children apply what we taught them and be able to progress in fluency in reading. Whether they’re 5 years old or 9 years old, you can tell they’re listening because they’re applying what we are showing them how to do in terms of reading.
I also volunteer with Fresh Air Fund as a tutor, with I’Raise International as a mentor, I write the RSVP newsletter for Americorps and I volunteer with Traveler’s Aid – which is the only in-person role I have at the moment. The rest are through virtual meetings.
I loved the greeting card writing I did during COVID, from 2020 to 2021. I wrote 358 cards to seniors in a Staten Island nursing home! That effort was all about making them feel good about themselves and helping them know they’re not forgotten.
Why are these issues so important to you?
I believe in helping the children because reading is very important in their lives, as we all know. Therefore, when they’re struggling with reading, I believe we have to help them – so they can progress, so they can learn, so they can lift themselves and so they can accomplish things in life. Without reading, they really can’t make much out of their God-given talents.
As far as seniors, depending on the family composition and who in their families is still alive, many of them are in need of socialization. So even just receiving a card makes a difference.
What inspired you to get started with these initiatives?
I went through the eyes of needles building a life here in the United States. Most of the things I’m referring to were beyond my control. I believe God sent me human angels who sort of smoothed the way for me. In the same manner, I’d like to be able to assist others as well and make it easier for them. I think I’m doing that when I’m helping children figure out how to read, decode words and comprehend what they’re reading. It’s very encouraging to be working with kids because they do listen!
There are some kids who might reject you or reject me, and when that happens I can go back to the reading coordinator and ask for a switch. That can happen with this type of work. But during the session when we read something really meaningful or applicable to life, I just try to point out lessons about humility or perseverance or growth mindset. We all get nervous when we’re unfamiliar with something, but when we become conversant with something, we’re going to make it! There are a few seeds we’re able to plant when we’re reading with them, and hopefully that helps them growing up.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The ability to help a teenager, through mentoring, overcome the emotional difficulties she’s going through. It’s quite rewarding to be trusted. She shared her poems and her haikus with me. This child went through so many trials and so much pain due to her family situation. Preventing her from going down a harmful path is the most meaningful to me.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
A lot of people are in need of help, irrespective of age or economic situation. Of course, the majority of people I meet aren’t necessarily in the affluent bracket, but these are the people who need greater chances in life. They need to be equipped – in my opinion – with the ability, not only through reading or the application of positive techniques, but also through building their self confidence. Some people are very shy. Some people feel like they may not be able to do things at all. But if you show them the path, the light at the end of the tunnel, it gives them hope and courage. And hopefully they can make a better life for themselves.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
It’s the most worthwhile thing to be involved in. Also, it’s not just giving your time and effort to others. It’s also learning. I learn from the kid who’s 5, a child who’s 12, a teenager who’s 15. The training I receive from the different organizations is a learning process as well. For example, Reading Partners provides training on race, equity, diversity and inclusion. All these techniques we learn assist us in gaining rapport with children.
As volunteers, we also have to persevere. We gain a lot of friends. We broaden our knowledge. I came to this country with two suitcases and a few hundred dollars. I’ve seen other volunteers overcome immense challenges. Learn to get involved. Whatever you accomplish, you can’t do it alone. I’ve had helpers – or earth angels – all along the way, and I value my experience very much.
Service Leader Creates Nonprofit to End Hunger in Her Florida Community
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Karen Crumley. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
After Karen Crumley discovered that students and families had challenges reaching food banks on weekends and after work hours, she knew she wanted to be a part of finding a solution for hunger relief in Plant City, Florida. That solution became Feeding PlantCity, a nonprofit dedicated to ending food poverty in the Plant City community.
Crumley not only leads this volunteer-led nonprofit as the CEO, but she also volunteers her time to recruit hundreds of volunteers to paint the homes of blind homeowners with The Kind Helping the Blind, hurricane disaster relief projects and has even donated over five gallons of blood as a donor.
I’ve been volunteering almost all my life because my parents were always getting involved in the community. I have volunteered on all types of projects — everything from conservation to hunger to even adopting a highway. Feeding PlantCity started because I do a lot of things with hurricane and hunger relief. In one of my volunteer meetings with The Young Lions Club, we were talking about the hunger relief programs that I was getting ready to start. They were saying, well, I would like to volunteer on that too.
At 75 years –old, Karen Crumley not only leads Feeding PlantCity, but also volunteers her time to recruit hundreds of volunteers to paint the homes of blind homeowners with The Kind Helping the Blind, hurricane disaster relief projects and has even donated over five gallons of blood as a donor.
Our families are having difficulty with getting food resources when both parents work and the food banks aren’t always open in the evenings or on the weekends. I started thinking that this is something that needs to be solved if people can’t get to food. The more I talked to the volunteers around me, I realized that it’s a noble cause that is in desperate need of a solution. In April of 2020, I filed in the state of Florida for my nonprofit status. We were 100% volunteers with no paid staff, and everybody that was associated with the organization was helping fill community needs.
Tell us about your volunteer roles with Feeding PlantCity.
When we first started out with Feeding PlantCity, I was working with Feeding America when they had a program called Farmers to Families in July of 2020. They had all these USDA food boxes of fruits and vegetables and they contacted a lot of Florida businesses, organizations and nonprofits to distribute them because there are thousands of these boxes nationwide. They contacted the Lions Club because we’re a large service organization and I also went ahead and said yes. We gave out around 100 boxes of food and also about 120 gallons of milk, sometimes in a day. All of my family got involved — my sons, my granddaughters and my niece. Everybody wanted to help and volunteer to get out these food products.
I wanted the distribution to be on Saturdays to help the working families. I ended up partnering with organizations like Generations Renewed and Feeding Tampa Bay to do mobile food pantries where we pick four different locations in the rural areas around Plant City, in the northeast and southwest quadrants, to try to reach the lowest income people in need. We give out over 300,000 pounds of food each year on all these mobile food pantries. There are no restrictions; just show up and you get food. You get to choose what you want as you go around pallets in a big circle.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I get kind of choked up every time I talk about this. Every time we do these projects, it amazes me. I have so many young people that want to get involved and want to do service committee work. It just enriches my soul. It’s God’s work and it’s just amazing to see the new generations come through, help and understand the joy that you get in this volunteerism. I just had a granddaughter that ended up going to Nicaragua on a trip and helping serve in those countries, and she said it just enriched her soul so much and that her work was like grandma’s.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I think the learning thing is actually in my signature every time I send emails out to people. Everyone has the power to be kind. And if you think about it, and you foster that, you can make a positive difference in
the United States. If we can get more and more kind-hearted people to band together to do free community service, to help the other person — that’s a legacy that I would like to add.
Do you have any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Try to find service organizations that you know. There are women’s clubs, Lions Clubs, and rotaries and a lot of stuff around that are civic-oriented for the community. My heart is with the food banks. I can’t stand to see families with children or seniors go without food, and there are people actually literally starving. I delivered it to one elderly woman’s home and she goes, “Oh, I’m thanking God, because it’s been three days since I’ve had any food.” Oh my gosh, I’m just crying leaving there thinking that I made a difference in that person’s life. She didn’t have any relatives. She didn’t have anybody to lean on.
Do you have a favorite memory with Feeding PlantCity?
Probably the one with little children when I delivered some food that had desserts and stuff in it. This family was pretty under resourced and when I delivered the food — it was just the main basic things — I included a bunch of desserts. There were some cookies in there, brownies and a cake. The little girls looked at it and one of the girls looked at me and she asked, is it Christmas? The mother responded that it’s only at Christmas time when we can afford sweets to give to the children.
Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.
We’d love to try and partner with Amazon Prime to get more meat for these food pantries and maybe even our Publix store too. I want to partner with corporations like that so they can donate the meat and stuff needed because it seems like all of these donations that we get from local charities are usually fruits and vegetables or dry goods. So that’s my goal for the future.
Leaving a Legacy for Children and Families Across the Greater Richmond Area
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jill Goldfine. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Jill Goldfine has dedicated over 20 years to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, spanning numerous roles – perhaps most notably as a member of the Board of Directors (BOD) and the Finance and Audit Committee, where her expertise as a CPA has been invaluable. She helped secure funding that enabled the YMCA to use an apartment in an underserved community for tutoring, a food pantry, summer learning programs and ESL classes.
One of Jill’s most significant contributions has been her involvement in the YMCA’s summer-long Bright Beginnings program. This initiative provides at-risk youth with the essential supplies they need to start the school year on the right foot. Jill has played a crucial role in planning and executing 20 school-supply “shopping” events, helping to serve over 2,000 students each year. Her dedication to this program goes beyond just volunteering her time; she has also leveraged her fundraising skills and connections to secure critical investments that support the YMCA’s mission.
In addition to her work with the YMCA, Jill introduced the organization to Dignity Grows™, a program that provides hygiene and menstrual products to those in need. Thanks to Jill’s efforts, the YMCA’s food pantry now receives a regular supply of these essential items, ensuring that individuals and families have access to the basic necessities that many take for granted.
Jill Goldfine has dedicated over 20 years of volunteer service to the YMCA of Greater Richmond and other organizations.
Jill’s passion and energy are contagious, inspiring others to join her in her mission to improve the lives of those in her community. Read on to find out more about what drives her to show up consistently for the organizations committed to this work.
Tell us about your volunteer role.
I’ve been connected to the YMCA of Greater Richmond for 21 years. I’ve served on two different boards over the course of that time. The branch board I formerly served on is more advocacy – helping to raise money and promoting the YMCA, and the umbrella board I serve on now is more policy and procedure related. One of the programs we do is called Bright Beginnings, which is all about setting our elementary students up for success with school supplies, backpacks and clothing. I’ve been involved with this program for a couple of decades.
Because I loved the program so much, I got more involved over the past six or seven years. So now, I’m not just working as a volunteer with the children, but I’m helping on the administrative side with the ordering and unpacking boxes – a lot on the process side of things. Especially during COVID, when everything was turned upside down, I was there with the chairs working my tail off packing boxes and boxes of coats and hats and gloves, and meeting with the children to help them try things on.
I do a lot of working behind the scenes, especially with fundraising. We service about 2,000 children in the greater Richmond area across about 14 branches, and there are probably about 30,000 children who would qualify for this program, if we had the funds.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I find that 99% of the time, it’s the most wonderful experience when the children receive these items, and the parents are so appreciative. Prior to COVID, we’d actually take the children shopping in Target, help them try on and buy new clothes. That was always really fun, and I have so many wonderful stories about those experiences. Now, we order things in advance, or sit with the child and order the clothes online.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
I’m on a new committee and we’re calling it Reimagining Bright Beginnings. We started the discussion about what Bright Beginnings will look like in the future. This particular summer, it will look like very similar to how it’s looked like in past years, but what we want to happen in the future is to eliminate some of the duplication of efforts. So we are looking to partner with multiple organizations in the community to provide various services. We’re building a database of partners within the entire greater Richmond area to work together and service more kids in the long run.
One example is I’m currently trying to find a shoe vendor who can supply shoes at a discounted price for us. I’m working on corporate sponsorships that occur on a more regular basis. I’m working with other nonprofits in schools, nonprofits that are health services. Maybe instead of servicing 2,000 students, in future years we can service 5,000 children or more.
We’re also trying to figure out alternative ways of contributing supplies. In January we may do some kind of mini program, as the teachers tell us that by mid-year, their supplies are often worn out. Additionally, a lot of times the kids aren’t necessarily bringing what the teachers are requesting them to bring in terms of school supplies, so we’re looking to potentially stock the teachers’ closets. We want the teachers getting exactly what they want, exactly what the classrooms need – headphones, for example. We’re currently looking for a sponsor to supply 1,000 pairs of headphones.
As a board, we reads the book “Toxic Charity.” And we learned a lot about creating a more sustaining situation as we give these children school supplies. We want to get to the point where the program is something more sustainable, as well as making more educational moments. For instance, instead of giving them a coat, how about doing a math project with fake money, and then they learn about saving and purchasing? One of the things we’re trying to do is make more of a parent participation situation. We’re thinking outside of the box and trying to make this a long-term, sustainable situation.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
When my kids were little, we would go to Walmart and buy all the school supplies, and at the same time pack a backpack for these children in the YMCA program. Knowing that these kids would have what my children would have on day one of school, knowing that these kids can have dignity when they go into the classroom, that they can come in feeling good, means so much. Knowing that you’re no different from any of the other kids, and having the same new supplies as the other kids in the class, is so rewarding.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Well, first, selfishly, it makes me feel really good to volunteer. We’ve been very fortunate in our family and we want to be able to help others. Obviously, we live in a world that has a lot of struggles. Why not share what we have? Why not share the good things you have with everybody else? If only this could be a better place for more people.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
It doesn’t have to be a board position. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. When you volunteer, don’t just think you’re going to do a task. Understand the mission of the organization. Ask questions so you understand why you’re doing it. It will make your work much more fulfilling. You’ll end up doing this because you really do believe in the organization.
High School Student Volunteers to Help Implement Leadership Program as a Former Participant
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Shanice Chang. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Most people have heard of the singer known only as Usher, but his foundation, Usher’s New Look (UNL), may be less familiar. Founded with his mother in 1999, the organization is comprised of multiple programs for students from eighth grade through five years after high school. It’s based in Atlanta but connects with and supports under-resourced students everywhere.
“We’re a 10-year, comprehensive program. We were created to create global leaders through internships, exposure, opportunity and education,” says Jessica Washington, national program director. “The year-round program that we offer youth in high school or college is meant to provide them with the tools that their families [or academic classroom] may not be able to provide but what the world really expects our young people to have. We bridge that gap.”
Shanice Chang, 17, has not only seen tremendous personal growth as a participant in the program but now engages as a volunteer helping implement it. She’s the oldest of three girls with a passion for drawing and a strong interest in studying computer science or software engineering at college. Filming and editing YouTube videos has also captivated her attention.
“I really enjoy sharing my perspective of life, and what it’s like when you try something new or just sharing my day-to-day,” she explains.
It’s this bold wandering into the unfamiliar that Jessica recognizes in Shanice’s willingness to volunteer for different programs.
“She’s shy, but when given an opportunity, she’s not scared. Some of the kids, when given the same opportunities say, ‘No. I’ve never done that before.’ Shanice is willing to try anything,” Jessica states.
In early 2022, Shanice started as a virtual participant in UNL’s Disruptivator Club. This curriculum helps participants learn some of those things that slip through the cracks and is led by different coordinators, schools, club counselors and more. After participating in the program, Shanice was brought on as a cast member to be part of the team that delivers lessons via video recordings used across the country and internationally. She also remains a part of the Community Partnership Club, a group within Disruptivator Club that volunteers in person for projects in the local community.
When presented with the chance to join the in-person Leadership Academy last year—something Jessica describes as Disruptivator Club but more intense—Shanice jumped in. The group meets multiple times a week throughout the school year, does off-campus excursions and required assignments and participation. And when it’s completed, participants earn a scholarship. Then, through Leadership Academy, Shanice became a Powered by Service trainer.
Shanice writes an informative newsletter about the creative departments of Georgia Cyber Academy Robotics team.
“Powered by Service is the one-day leadership program that we teach across the country for kids in grades 8 through 12. We hold a one-day version of Usher New Look certified leadership training. And it’s a peer-led program, so we needed our youth to go out and teach other kids,” Jessica says, emphasizing the added responsibilities.
Selected students prepare and deliver presentations for students at schools across the country. Shanice has led presentations to more than 2,000 students across Georgia and New York City. Besides teaching, Shanice led a pep rally with 200+ middle schoolers and coordinated team building exercises.
“We cover tools to manage conflict resolution, mental wellness and other topics like personal branding, leadership, financial literacy, networking and more. It’s all of the things you need for life that don’t usually get talked about,” Shanice explains.
She admits that she didn’t learn that information from school or at home, though her parents would occasionally mention the importance of having a good credit score. Lessons help students understand how the information can be used in their everyday life.
Outside of UNL, Shanice competes and volunteers with a nonprofit called Robotics. The group’s coordinator engaged Shanice’s writing skills to write emails to sponsors and create marketing materials that resulted, for example, in a renewed partnership with Uber. She also hopes to set up a little league for younger kids to learn and participate in the upcoming school year.
“When you’re younger, your mind is more open to a lot of different things. And you have longer to build up those skills,” Shanice explains.
So, what’s next for this motivated volunteer? After graduation, she plans to mentor with UNL’s “Locals in Training” program.
“They plan a lot of trips and service projects that help you stay connected to your community. The organization helps you build a network to guide you towards your aspirations—mentors, professionals in your intended field and others.”
In the meantime, this high school senior is looking forward to being one of 10 co-hosts at the annual UNL Summit at Oglethorpe University, a three-day event she has been planning for months. Hundreds of high schoolers from around the country will head to Atlanta to be inspired and empowered.
“She’s going to be on stage by herself leading the youth in some of the exercises. She’ll be a panel moderator and she’ll also be helping with social media. Whatever we put out, if we say, Does anyone want to… she says yes, and she does it,” Jessica articulates.
Shanice (third from right) celebrates with her colleagues from Georgia Cyber Academy Robotics Team 8577 after winning the Gwinnett Qualifier for GeorgiaFIRST Robotics competition.
Aside from the basic skills from Leadership Academy, the summit will bring in speakers from an array of professional fields to answer questions and provide resources. Students will also participate in a campus-wide community service project, and it will all culminate in a dance.
One of Shanice’s favorite aspects of her time with the organization has been getting to know the people she teaches and seeing her impact. She has learned to personalize her approach, recognizing different comfort levels when it comes to doing new things and taking on challenges. Noting her own shyness, she aims to be someone people feel comfortable opening up to, emphasizing the interpersonal skills she has learned through her experience.
“We need to see more expressions of kindness in the world. And more people need to find value in seeing other people succeed,” she proclaims. “It’s good to do the right thing just because it’s the right thing, without ulterior motives.”
As Shanice reminisces on her time with UNL, she takes stock of the people she’s met and the growth of both the organization and her skillset.
“The more new things she tries, the more things she’s willing to try again. She continues to say yes to things, and if she had any fear at the beginning, she doesn’t now,” Jessica boasts. “She’s awesome.”
