Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Nishith Sadu. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Since 2022, 18-year-old Nishith Sadu has held many roles at PURE Youth, an organization that addresses the urgent needs of children facing poverty and other hardships. From volunteer to chapter director, Nishith has led and assisted with many projects in more than 500 lifetime volunteering hours.
He’s been involved with many school supply, toy, clothing and food drives. He’s aided local conservation efforts and recruited friends to grow the impact. Now, as a national student youth director, Nishith supports 30 chapters with 300+ middle and high school student volunteers nationwide, driving national initiatives forward.
Unsurprisingly, his empathy extends to those who need help across the world as well. In three years, he’s helped raise $8,000 to rebuild roofs and ceilings for schools in India and South Africa. He’s sent 400+ pairs of sneakers to kids in Kenya and used $1,000-worth of bake sale money to buy kids in Barbados and Uganda wheelchairs. His work supports necessities for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Outside of PURE Youth, Nishith brings joy to his community through Bollywood dance as both a member of a troupe–he has performed at Houston Rockets halftime shows!–and as the founder of a school club. Leading with compassion and enthusiasm, he engages others in building community and making the world a kinder place.
What inspires you to volunteer?
Something that helps me ground myself is the purpose that I’m volunteering for. For example, sometimes the goal is to raise money to fund or build schools that will create educational opportunities in rural areas. Keeping that in mind drives me.
National Student Youth Director Nishith Sadu helps lead PURE Youth’s mission to empower young volunteers across more than 30 chapters nationwide.
Tell us about your volunteer role with PURE Youth.
Originally, I joined as an ambassador or a volunteer. About two years later, I became a chapter director, meaning that I’d lead our chapter and coordinate volunteers. I came up with project proposals and ensured our chapter was raising enough money and hosting service projects benefitting our local community, like park cleanups. We also did civic engagement activities with a local fire department.
I was later named a national student youth director, which is essentially a chapter director role but on a national level. We come up with different projects, communicating our ideas and plans to chapter directors and all of the ambassadors. We train and mentor chapter directors, host orientations for new volunteers and do outreach to local businesses.
I’ve also been working towards becoming an Eagle Scout since second grade. I recently conducted an initiative using my interest in computer science and technology to create STEM kits.
Working with people more experienced with electronics, I put together about 30 different kits. We made instruction manuals for each and had volunteers test them to see if they could make the projects properly. Then, we gave them to underserved children in the community at a local event I coordinated with another organization.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
When I was in eighth grade, a few people from my community found Pure Youth and wanted to start a chapter. My mom got that information to me, and I expressed interest in joining. I’ve been volunteering ever since.
What have been some of your favorite initiatives?
One of the ones that stuck with me the most was a local chapter initiative to make a bookshelf for a local temple. We fundraised and collected books for visitors to read. It was the first project I’d ever led, and I learned a lot about communicating and making sure everyone was focused.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences was leading PUREthon, a nationwide 2K/5K walk/run organized and facilitated by all our chapters at the same time. Our goal was to raise awareness for femme care and period poverty. My job was to ensure every chapter had the tools, guidance and motivation to execute successfully.
It required a lot of coordination. I worked with social media managers from each chapter to promote the event and share venue details. I helped chapters prepare for contingencies like bad weather, secure supplies and accommodate children and seniors.
I saw firsthand how a shared mission can unite diverse teams and how leadership can spark impact. Chapters that had never hosted a public event before started engaging their communities.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
It was really hard for me to communicate with others until I became a leader. It took me stepping out of my shell, and it has helped me get comfortable voicing my opinions. There were days when I felt like I wasn’t making a difference, but to be able to attribute some of our results to my actions has given me confidence that I’m capable of doing something for the greater good.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Gandhi once said something like, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Hoping change will happen won’t actually create change. It’s when you start to take things into your own hands that you’ll start seeing it. Having the opportunity to do so can be very fulfilling.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Don’t hesitate. I’ve been able to learn a lot about leadership, fundraising and marketing. It’s not just about creating impact. There are a lot of things you take away from the experience.
I think the best way to get involved is to ask your friends if they’re part of any organizations. You can also get involved in your high school’s initiatives. They’re a good introduction and one of the easier ways to get started.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Everyone has the ability to create impact. Take time out of your day to do something to help others, even if it’s small. It’ll build character and confidence in your abilities, and it’ll give you fulfillment.
Transforming Compassion for Malnutrition into Impactful Change
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Viraja Shivhare. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
The fire of compassion often burns brightest when fueled by personal experience. For Viraja Shivhare, the co-founder and director of outreach for Fuel the World, her years spent living in India and her own struggle with anemia illuminated a heartbreaking reality: generational malnutrition. She witnessed firsthand how food aid, while well-intentioned, often lacked the dignity and crucial nutrition needed to break the cycle. Determined that the challenges she and others faced wouldn’t persist for future generations, Viraja set out to create systemic, youth-led change—a vision that has since grown into one of the world’s largest youth-led nonprofits.
Viraja’s dedication to thoughtful, community-focused service quickly crystallized into two flagship initiatives that offer both immediate and long-term solutions. The first, NourishNet, delivers fortified, culturally relevant meals, ensuring that food aid is not just filling, but genuinely nourishing and respectful of recipients’ heritage. The second, Nutrition Literacy Workshops, empowers families with the essential knowledge to sustain their health, teaching them to read labels, prepare affordable and nutritious meals and actively prevent chronic illness. This dual approach, blending tangible aid with vital education, demonstrates a profound understanding of the complex root causes of malnutrition.
Under Viraja’s passionate leadership, her commitment of roughly 30 to 33 hours per month—meticulously divided across 32 chapters, fundraising and hands-on volunteering—has yielded inspiring results. Fuel the World now boasts a network of over 300 volunteers, has achieved an incredible online reach of 90,000 people, and has successfully raised $24,000 to sustain its vital programs. Working with major partners like the Akshaya Patra Foundation, LifeMoves and the County of Santa Clara, and securing grants from organizations including Hershey’s and Destination: Home, Viraja has shown that even as a young leader, her vision is powerful enough to attract significant support and collaboration.
Viraja Shivhare co-founded Fuel the World.
Tell us about your volunteer role.
Fuel the World is one of the world’s largest youth-led nonprofits dedicated to combatting malnutrition in underserved communities by empowering them with the tools and knowledge to achieve lasting nutritional security. Through our flagship initiatives, NourishNet and our Nutrition Literacy Workshops, we deliver fortified, culturally responsive meal packages tailored to specific community health needs, such as iron-rich meals for anemic youth or low-sugar options for families managing diabetes, while prioritizing dignity, culture and long-term wellness.
We also run free, youth-led in-person and virtual workshops at schools, libraries and community centers that teach participants how to navigate nutrition labels, make affordable and healthy food choices and prevent chronic illness through diet. Over the past three years, we have collectively raised nearly $24,000, secured three grants worth upwards of $1,000, expanded to 31 chapters globally, partnered with organizations such as the Akshaya Patra Foundation, LifeMoves, SF Marin Food Bank, BigHelp for Education, CityTeam, Jamba Juice, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Shake Shack, Hot Table and the County of Santa Clara, mobilized over 300 youth volunteers and reached more than 90,000 people through outreach and social media.
As the co-founder and director of outreach of Fuel the World, I help to build and nurture partnerships with community leaders, organizations and stakeholders to the distribution of our nutritional programs. I oversee outreach campaigns, coordinate volunteer efforts, and advocate for policies that support nutrition security. I spend a majority of my time supporting leaders and helping them to plan events, coordinate distribution and stay aligned with our outreach and nutrition goals. I also manage the Fundraising and Partnerships Task Force and previously managed the Fuel the World Summer 2025 Internship, where I managed donor communication and identified partnership opportunities. I also spend time weekly meeting with grantors and collaborating with organizations like Destination: Home, Hershey’s Company, Youth Service America and Karma4Cara through fiscal sponsorships and monetary grant contributions.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
It was the moment I realized that thinking about change wasn’t enough; I wanted to put pen to paper and actually build something that made a tangible difference. I’d spent so much time volunteering, learning about nutrition insecurity and seeing the gaps in access and education, but eventually the question became: What am I going to do with what I know? I didn’t want my frustration or empathy to stay theoretical. I wanted to translate it into programs, partnerships and resources that people could feel in their everyday lives. Creating Fuel the World was my way of moving from intention to impact, designing real systems, organizing real volunteers and addressing real needs rather than just talking about them. That shift from idea to action is what started this entire journey, and it still drives me today.
Why is this issue so important to you?
It matters to me on a deeply personal level because I’ve experienced the effects of malnutrition in my own life and seen how it can echo across generations. Growing up Indian, I was surrounded by stories, from my parents, grandparents and extended family, about how nutritional deficiencies were almost normalized in our community. For many South Asian families, especially women, conditions like anemia are so common that people stop questioning why they persist. I dealt with anemia myself, and even though I had access to healthcare and information, it still affected my energy, concentration and overall wellbeing.
That experience made me think about how many children don’t have the same support systems or resources I had. If something as “quiet” as anemia could shape my daily life, what does it mean for kids facing more severe or chronic nutritional gaps with far fewer resources to fall back on? The more I learned, the more I realized that malnutrition isn’t just an individual issue; it’s a generational one. It affects how children grow, how they learn and what opportunities they can pursue. It’s woven into systemic inequalities, cultural norms and long-standing gaps in access to nutritious food and education. Working on this issue feels like a way of breaking that cycle, not just for one community, but for any family or child who has been told, implicitly or explicitly, to simply “live with it.” Addressing malnutrition isn’t just about food; it’s about giving people the health and foundation they deserve from the very beginning. That personal connection is why I’m so committed to this work.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
My goal is to continue leading Fuel the World as a co-founder and director of outreach throughout high school, building on the foundation my team and I have created. After graduating, I want to establish a new high school board to preserve the youth-led, community-centered identity that defines our organization, while also expanding Fuel the World onto college campuses to broaden our reach. As our credibility grows, I plan to develop larger partnerships with other nonprofits and integrate our initiatives like Nutrition Literacy workshops and NourishNet into mainstream hunger-relief efforts nationwide. Ultimately, I envision Fuel the World contributing to policy change in schools by advocating for healthier food options and high-quality nutrition education beginning early in childhood, addressing generational malnutrition at its root.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Seeing the real, human impact of what started as a small idea. Watching families benefit from NourishNet meals or seeing students light up during our Nutrition Literacy workshops makes the long hours feel worth it. Just as meaningful, though, has been watching our volunteer network grow seeing younger students step into leadership roles, build confidence and create their own projects within Fuel the World.
Another deeply rewarding piece has been the collaborations we’ve built along the way. Getting to work with organizations I’ve admired for years like Akshaya Patra and Hershey’s has felt surreal at times. Our most recent and upcoming partnership with Kendra Scott shows that youth-led initiatives can stand shoulder to shoulder with established nonprofits, and it’s validating to know that our team’s work is recognized at that level. Altogether, the personal impact, the community we’ve built and the partnerships we’ve formed make this work incredibly meaningful and keep me excited to keep growing it.
What have you learned through your experiences volunteering?
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is the importance of curiosity, thoroughness and research. When I first started Fuel the World, we began under a different name, “Humanity Bundles Initiative,” with a different mission and a different approach to solving the nutrition crisis. But, after a few months of operations, we weren’t satisfied with the change we were creating. This is when our team took a step back and began digging deep into the root causes of malnutrition. As a result, we learned that malnutrition can’t just be characterized by a lack of good, but also shaped by generational and biological history that has to be addressed first. Understanding this complexity forced us to broaden our perspective: malnutrition is a personal issue, but it’s also a systemic one shaped by history, culture and inequality. This caused us to realize that our previous programs were simply a Band-Aid, not a real fix to the problem at hand and forced us to redesign our organization as a whole into a complete rebrand. I think it’s important for volunteers and founders like me to think outside the box and be okay with their mission evolving and becoming more specific as they learn, but I believe this starts first with empathetically looking towards other stories, as well as digging deeper into our own.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Real change doesn’t happen from the sidelines. It happens when individuals decide to act, even if they don’t feel “ready” or “qualified.” And youth especially play a crucial role in that. Young people bring energy, urgency and a willingness to rethink systems that adults often take for granted. When I first began doing community service work, I saw how easy it was for young volunteers to second-guess ourselves. Adults didn’t always take us seriously, and sometimes that made us question our own ability to create meaningful change. But I also learned that the best way to challenge that doubt, both from others and from within, is to show what’s possible through consistent action. Every workshop, every fundraiser, every partnership becomes evidence that age isn’t a limitation. That’s why youth participation matters.
Young people don’t wait for the “perfect moment” or the “perfect credentials.” We build credibility by showing up, learning as we go and proving our impact step by step. And because we’re not locked into old assumptions, we’re often the ones who push for solutions that are more creative, community-driven and equitable. When young people get involved, they don’t just support a cause; they expand what that cause is capable of achieving. Their involvement signals that change is not only necessary, but urgent, and that anyone, regardless of age, can help move it forward. I encourage anybody reading this to take the next step that they’ve been thinking about but holding themselves back from, because young founders and volunteers can have an impact beyond their comprehension.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
When I first got involved in community service, I used to think impact only came from big, dramatic accomplishments. But I realized pretty quickly that the most meaningful progress often comes from breaking things down into manageable steps. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, I gave myself smaller benchmarks that felt realistic and kept me grounded. I’d aim to complete one project, connect with one new partner, or organize one event at a time.
Focusing on these short-term targets made the work feel less overwhelming and gave me a sense of direction, especially on weeks when the bigger picture felt too far away. What surprised me is how easily these small efforts began to build on each other. Before I knew it, those little goals had grown into outcomes I never imagined when I started, more outreach, more volunteers and a deeper impact in the communities I cared about. If you’re beginning your own volunteer journey, start with something simple and achievable. Those small commitments stack up faster than you think, and they can lead you somewhere far beyond what you expected.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Warren Bates. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Warren Bates is only 16, but volunteerism has been his lifelong passion. Currently a junior in high school, Warren started volunteering alongside his brother at a retirement facility back in junior high. A light inside him turned on, and Warren realized his passion for service. When he got older, he joined the National League of Young Men, which required annual community service hours. Warren parlayed that into a role as an assistant counselor with the Friends of Tryon Creek in the summer of 2023, and he soon became a full counselor.
An organization that works to preserve the forested canyon that borders Lake Oswego and Portland, the group also hosts summer camps in its stunning forest landscapes. Warren jumped aboard, helping educate and inspire youth campers to appreciate nature and learn to feel safe in the forest. In the past 15 months, he has volunteered over 500 hours with this initiative, teaching important leadership skills and creating the next generation of people who will keep the forest thriving.
Outside of the summer season, Warren dedicates himself to Tryon Creek in another unique way. Recent bills passed by Oregon lawmakers affected one of the culverts in the Willamette River, which subsequently created issues in Tryon Creek. Warren works to preserve the area by removing overgrown plants and keeping the area functioning properly. He’s even interested in pursuing restoration in the future as a hobby.
While Warren already has 500 volunteer hours under his belt, he’s not slowing down. Looking forward, his goal is to complete 600 volunteer service hours at Tryon Creek before June 2026. Whether he’s leading a group of campers on a hike or clearing away ivy that has blocked a walking path, Warren’s dedication to the natural beauty of Tryon Creek is an inspiration to us all.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
My main motive was joining an organization called the National League of Young Men. It’s a nationwide organization, but here specifically, it’s the Lake Oswego Chapter. You have to commit at least 10 hours of volunteering each year in order to stay in the organization, but I just decided to take that opportunity to a much higher level.
Tell us about your volunteer role with the Friends of Tryon Creek.
There’s a group of about 13 of us camp counselors. Our responsibilities include creating a schedule for a whole five days. We have to figure out and determine which kind of activities our group would like to participate in. For example, last summer, I had a few groups that were ages 7 through 9. I thought that they would really enjoy going on pretty short hikes, as well as allowing them to do a few coloring books that include drawings of nature and education-based nature books. We also had them learn about Tryon Creek itself.
I also do volunteer work outside of the summer. Our Oregon law recently passed a bill on one of the culverts in the Willamette River, which caused environmental issues all across habitats and other natural state areas, but specifically Tryon Creek. Restoration includes dealing with that culvert and making sure we can do everything we can to help. Another thing is cutting down trees and replacing them, because there are some that are getting overgrown and getting on the walking paths. There’s also restoring dead plants and removing bad bacteria.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
My main goal was just to feel pride in myself, knowing that I can make a change in people’s lives, including retirees or younger children, or whichever audience I can reach. If I can even reach a bigger audience when I get older and join a bigger organization, that would be wonderful. That is definitely a huge goal of mine with volunteering.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
I’ve got to say it’s definitely the gratification that comes from everybody who notices how young I am. I feel pride in that. Also, just seeing the number of hours that I’ve collected over the years. There’s a prestige in showing people that I really do truly care for volunteering and it’s something that I’m willing to do, regardless of whether or not it’s a paid position or not.
How do you balance volunteering with your high school career?
The reason why I mostly do my hours in summer is that I don’t have school, which allows me to make the biggest difference. But during the year, I really just try to section it out month by month. Sometimes I only do it once a weekend over the course of a month, or sometimes twice, depending on how busy my class schedule is. That’s kind of been my mindset ever since middle school. I’ve really just never decided to procrastinate, and I guess that’s a good habit of mine. You should definitely just try and find like two hours on a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning to just go after it and take a break from school, work or athletics.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
One extra person goes a really long way. That was especially proven to me, actually, in my own community here at Lake Oswego. There is an organization that I worked with for a very short period of time, so it wasn’t very consistent. I was able to help, even just on my own. If you’re trying to get into something and you’re trying to help an organization out, you should definitely go for it, because you should never have the excuse that you’re only one person and think that not going to make that big of a deal. It actually is, especially if you really care for what you’re trying to do and actually put your effort and hard work into it.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
I’d say a good way to start is just by trying to put yourself out there. You’re not harming yourself and you’re not harming anybody else if you’re willing and truly passionate about volunteering for a specific cause. Just do it. I will definitely guarantee that there are options and opportunities for you.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Being 16 years old or being young doesn’t determine whether or not you can start taking action. Like I said, I started in seventh grade when I was 12 or 13. Even if you’re 10 years old, don’t ever doubt yourself in anything you’re trying to do. Regardless of your age or your mindset, there’s always something that is possible and obtainable if you put your mind to it.
Content Warning: Points of Light is proud to share the following uplifting and inspiring story. However, we acknowledge that a small portion mentions domestic and sexual violence and may be difficult for some readers. We encourage you to please care for your own well-being above all.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Sue Baarts. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Four years ago, when Sue Baarts retired, she immediately began dedicating her time to an organization she had been donating her money to for years. Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) is an organization that supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence through things like shelter, legal assistance, hospital visits and more. They serve 1,200 to 1,400 survivors each year, providing education and advocacy as well.
For around 35 hours each month, Sue does everything from leading a fundraiser at the organization’s annual Galentine Gala to watering plants. No task is too big or too small in service of the mission. Her positivity and eagerness to dive in wherever she’s needed uplifts staff and makes her a cherished member of the team. The work often becomes a family affair when Sue recruits her six sisters to help with the appeal mailings. All of them, in turn, bring friends, spreading awareness of the cause and turning relatively monotonous work into joyful afternoons.
Sue is married to a man she met her freshman year of high school, one she reunited with at their 30th class reunion. Enjoying her own healthy relationship, Sue’s compassion for those who find themselves in harmful situations continues to power her volunteerism.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I would volunteer a little bit at church and give blood–my sisters and I are still pretty competitive. We’d ring the bells for the Salvation Army, but between work and home, I didn’t have time to do much more. This is my first full-time role. And I help once a week at Echo Food Shelf in Mankato.
CADA has opportunities to do many different things. I really wanted to work for them because their mission is so important. Whatever they ask of me, I do. I think everybody should be safe in their home.
Tell us about your volunteer role with CADA.
I lead a committee of about eight in organizing Galantine Gala. This is the fifth year, and I’ve been there for all of them. Last year, we had 250 women, ages 20 to 40, supporting CADA. They make donations, and we have games and trivia. They all dress up.
We have a mystery gift wall, and we get flowers and small vases donated. Then, people donate $20 per mystery gift card to take it home. The first year, we had 57. Last year, I suggested we do 200 in order to make $4,000 for the shelter. At the end of January last year, we had 129. By February 20, we had 210. It wasn’t just businesses that donated, but also all of the friends I tagged on social media.
We get some grants and some federal funding. We used to send out 1,700 appeal letters twice a year, but it’s down to 1,200 now. Last year, we made $29,000 through Galentine donations as well. It helps support our secure shelter and a space where kids can go for supervised visitation between parents.
In December, we have the Santa’s Elves program. We give toys and other items on their wish lists to people in the shelter and any who have had a connection with CADA. Maybe they’re out on their own now but just don’t have enough money.
At the office, I’m mainly in the front. If people come to the door with donations, I take them. We fill out forms. I pick up and organize donations, too. On Mondays, a Qwik Trip convenience store donates food that’s about to expire, because we have to feed people. We never know how many we’re going to have in our shelter.
I water the plants and clean the windows. I clean shared spaces, pick up mail and packages, take out garbage and recycling and stock supplies. Some days I come in, it’s quiet. Others are really busy and even stressful, depending on who comes to the door and how we need to handle it.
I also help at tabling events to raise awareness of CADA’s mission and services. At colleges, we hand out “10 signs of a healthy relationship” cards with “10 signs of an abusive relationship” on the back to start conversations. We’ll go to concerts like Rib Fest and fairs. A lot of people ask what they can do to help, and we might say, “We have babies in the shelter right now. We need diapers.”
Are there signs of abusive relationships people might not immediately think about?
Fear is pretty common. When someone is controlling, manipulating or isolating you. When someone makes you feel guilty. All of those things are signs. A healthy relationship is taking things at a comfortable pace, offering apologies, having fun, feeling safe and supported, having equality, independence and respect. That’s good to know, too.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
As a community, we’re making a difference. It makes me feel good. I feel better physically and mentally when I’m doing something. I’ve met so many wonderful people, and I enjoy it. I feel needed and appreciated. And they’re really good about opening the floor for ideas. I’m also using organizational skills that I used to use for work.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I’ve learned to be less judgmental. At the beginning, someone came in and wanted food, and I thought, “That’s not this department. You should go to ECHO Food Shelf.” I would never say that out loud but wondered why they weren’t doing that.
When you think about it, maybe they couldn’t go there. Maybe they couldn’t sign up. Maybe if they didn’t have enough food, they’d get in trouble at home. You really have to think about situations from multiple angles.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
People should always feel safe at home. And everyone can make a difference if they just do a little to help. Try different things. See what fits.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Meera Mehta. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
As pandemic restrictions began to disappear, testing showed that only 44% of New Jersey third graders were reading at grade level, a number that has still not returned to what it was prior. In 2022, writer and book-lover Meera Mehta decided to tackle the problem with Novel Futures, a nonprofit creating sustainable access to books and writing resources for underserved kids and families.
Over 600 volunteer hours later, now a high school senior, Meera’s book drives have helped thousands of kids build home libraries. She has built partnerships with schools, libraries and community organizations. And in two years, she has led more than ten free writing workshops for children. With a younger brother who has been steadily involved, Novel Futures should be increasing literacy for years to come.
Meera also serves as president of her school’s Feminist Club where she leads discussions on women’s issues and organizes drives to support various organizations and women’s shelters. Recently, she collected menstrual products to help stock the bathrooms at the local library. In college, she plans to study anthropology with a minor in women and gender studies and creative writing.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I just want to be helpful. That’s what leads me to work with the Feminist Club. I loved leading that period product drive, because I felt like I was really making a difference for people in my community.
During the pandemic, literacy rates in New Jersey dropped by about 8%. That number really stuck with me, because I’ve always loved reading, especially as a kid. Reading helps me look at things from new perspectives. Writing helps ground me in what’s going on around me. It allows me to share my beliefs or reflect on a specific moment or experience. I couldn’t imagine kids losing access to something so fundamental. So I started leading book drives and founded Novel Futures my freshman year.
Meera Mehta, founder of Novel Futures, is addressing the post-pandemic drop in literacy of New Jersey school children through access to books and writing resources.
Tell us about your volunteer role with Novel Futures.
It started as a small book drive, but it became something bigger. I created Novel Futures with the initial idea of simply collecting and donating books. Our first and biggest partner has been BookSmiles, which distributes books we collect to schools and learning centers across the state. They’ve helped us scale our impact and put books into the hands of children who need them most.
We’ve also expanded more locally. I partnered with the Montclair Human Needs Pantry and Childhood Development Center, so more kids in our local community can access books they want to read. So far, we’ve collected and distributed over 60,000, but I’m aiming for 100,000 by the end of senior year. I coordinate volunteer teams, oversee book drives and manage year-round distribution systems.
As things grew, I developed online literacy tools to reach kids who might not have easy access to in-person programs. I created a diverse BookFinder tool on our website, which is a curated database organized by categories like ethnicity, gender and other themes to help kids and parents discover relatable books that reflect different identities and lived experiences. It can also filter for things like picture books or middle school books and is used year-round by families, teachers and partner organizations.
I started hosting free writing workshops to help kids build skills and write their first stories at my local library, school and even in partnership with Girl Scout troops. One of my favorite parts has been developing Story Explorers, a free downloadable workbook for kids to practice creative writing and build confidence on their own.
I’m also going to be a keynote speaker at Make a Difference Day this spring. In the past few years, I’ve gone to local elementary schools to talk about literacy equity and reading.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The first is seeing kids get books when they might not have any at home. Last year, I went to the Montclair Childhood Development Center to do a book drive, and each kid got to take one home. They all seemed so excited to start their own home library.
I also love doing workshops and watching kids develop their voices through writing. Some kids come in not knowing what to write or are intimidated, but by the end of one or two workshops, they’re able to get a better grasp on it.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Making a difference can start off as a really small project, but it can grow if you want it to. I started it with a single book drive, and as I saw the impact, I realized I could expand.
Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.
I have another workshop scheduled with a Girl Scout troop coming, and as senior year frees up in the spring, I’m going to be reaching out to more partners to see how much I can expand before I leave.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Start small. I’m lucky, because now people ask me if they can drop off donations. A lot of people in my community have little kids who outgrow specific books, so they’re always looking for places to give them. There is less need to solicit donations.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
It’s important to have a passion or to find something in the community you care about, because if you’re able to make a difference, you should. If you’re interested in the environment, go pick up trash at a park. Not only does it benefit others around you, but you learn a lot about yourself. It makes you more aware as a person.
Meet The High School Student Mobilizing Diaper Drives
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Francesca Gambale. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
For Francesca Gambale, the path to becoming a neonatal nurse didn’t start in a classroom—it started in the warehouse of the Monmouth County Diaper Bank. Over the past three years, this dedicated volunteer has turned a personal passion into a lifeline for thousands of families. Driven by the sobering reality that government programs like WIC and SNAP do not cover the cost of diapers, Francesca has made it her mission to ensure that every child has the basic dignity of staying clean and dry. To her, a diaper is a foundation for a healthy start in life.
Having already logged 352 hours of service, Francesca is well on her way to her goal of 500 hours by graduation. Her work is a blend of physical labor and strategic mobilization: she has personally facilitated the wrapping and packaging of over 200,000 diapers for distribution. She spends 10 to 12 hours a month sorting through inventory or hosting drives that have, so far, collected 25,000 diapers.
Francesca has also proven to be a formidable fundraiser and leader. She has raised more than $20,000 through her various initiatives, including over $11,400 specifically dedicated to purchasing new diapers. She even contributed $1,000 of her own hard-earned money from summer jobs to the cause. This fall, she leveled up her efforts by forming a dedicated team to expand the diaper bank’s reach, proving that her ability to inspire others is just as strong as her own work ethic.
While Francesca’s roots are in Monmouth County, the organization has extended its reach to support those in the wake of national disasters, shipping essential supplies to flood victims in Texas and wildfire survivors in California. As she prepares to take her passion for service with her to college, Francesca leaves behind a legacy of “endless reach.” Read on to hear more of her story.
Francesca collects diapers for the Monmouth County Diaper Bank.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
In the summer of seventh grade, my parents came to me and we talked about how middle school was the next step in my education as well as me becoming a young adult. My parents are involved in a few volunteer opportunities. However, my brother and I were never forced to have their passions become ours. My parents shared with me a few volunteer opportunities available in my community and allowed me to pick one that would align with what would make me happy to become a part of. There were the traditional food banks for unhoused people… blessing bags… and then I read about a diaper drive.
When I read that diapers are in need for mothers and children in many communities, including my own, I immediately knew that that was the passion project for me. After doing some research and getting some help from Deacon Matt from our church, I realized that although many consider diapers necessary and accessible items as part of a child’s health and well-being, that is not always the case. Many low-income families can’t afford diapers. In addition, government assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP do not cover the cost of diapers.
Tell us about your organization and volunteer role.
With a passion for children and my hopes of going into pediatrics, I knew that joining the Monmouth County Diaper Bank was the perfect way for me to volunteer and get involved in my community. I’m currently a junior in high school and have been a constant advocate for the diaper bank for almost five years. I work with an amazing Deacon in my community, Deacon Matt. He is an inspiration to so many and has become a role model for me, supporting my journey since seventh grade and pushing me to be the best person I can be.
As part of the Monmouth County Diaper Bank, I have collected over 12,000 diaper donations and raised over $8,000 to purchase over 30,000 diapers to give to my community. In addition to that I have worked with the diaper bank to package and distribute diapers to those in shelters and communities both within Monmouth County and beyond. I have packaged over 100,000 diapers for distribution. I currently have over 360 volunteer hours with the Monmouth County Diaper Bank. And I do not plan to stop anytime soon! During the Texas floods this amazing organization also sent diapers down to Texas to fulfill the needs of others.
This year I have started to recruit others in my community to work with me to host diaper drives and package diapers. I am excited for this new opportunity to work with middle schoolers to inspire them to find their passion. It has truly been a rewarding experience being able to work hands-on with an amazing organization, and one of my mentors.
Why is this issue so important to you?
The best part about being a part of the Monmouth County Diaper Bank was not being forced to do this by my parents. I was able to pick a cause that was important to me. As the oldest of five cousins, I have seen the importance of diapers on a daily basis. Babies can go through anywhere from 6 to 10 diapers a day. The fact that mothers can possibly not have enough money to purchase diapers to keep their baby clean and dry is unimaginable. Every baby deserves the dignity and ability to be clean and dry. A soiled diaper can lead to extreme health concerns such as rashes, viruses and urinary tract infections.
Being part of this organization has shown me that parents become stressed with anxiety when they are unable to provide for their child. Being able to ease this financial burden, diaper banks help parents focus on work, education and family stability, and use their resources for food and shelter. Access to clean diapers isn’t just about hygiene, it’s about dignity. Diaper banks help families feel supported, not judged, during financially difficult times. Over the last five years this organization and my volunteer opportunities within it have helped me to discover a deeper passion, which is to go into pediatrics within the medical field. My goal is to continue this volunteer passion of mine throughout college and well into my career. I’m hopeful that this story will help others realize that every baby deserves to be clean and dry and that a little heart goes a long way.
What have you learned through your experiences volunteering?
Throughout volunteering, I’ve learned that some of life‘s most basic needs are not always obtainable by everyone. I also learned how many people right here in the Monmouth County community are struggling. My volunteer opportunity has taught me how important it is to be involved in your community. It has taught me empathy and has given me a sense of purpose. I have learned that my passion, time and patience can truly impact others. I have gained confidence and leadership skills that have helped me in high school.
Why is it important for others, especially youth, to get involved with causes they care about?
Because it will help them grow as a person. Throughout my volunteer work, I have learned more about myself, and my involvement within this organization has led me to a passion for medicine, specifically working with children. Volunteering also directly impacts your community. Volunteers can truly create a positive impact and a positive change within their community. When people show commitment to a cause, they inspire their family, friends and younger generations.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
The best advice I could give people who want to start volunteering would be to ask yourself why you want to volunteer. If it’s because your parents are making you do it or you need community service hours for religious education or National Honor Society, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Find a cause that is meaningful to you and something you’re passionate about. Once you do that, your time spent will be rewarding, and you’ll realize how important your acts of kindness, your time and your dedication are to those not only close to you, but in your community and beyond. My hope for this is that other teens will be inspired to get involved with their community in a way that means more to them than the people receiving the acts of kindness.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Tessa Shane. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
When Tessa Shane talks to people, they often tell her they don’t know where to donate their clothes. However, she has the perfect answer. A 17-year-old high school student, Tessa used to be really into sports. After a bad back injury sidelined her, Tessa found herself with a lot more time on her hands. Looking to get involved with volunteer work, she wanted to use her independent spirit and love of fashion to create something of her own. She got involved with Hoodies for the Homeless, a sweatshirt-collection organization that offered her the opportunity to spearhead their initiative in her home state of Michigan.
Soon, Tessa realized that maybe the potential to establish her own organization wasn’t so unrealistic. She formed The Donation Closet, an organization that collects new and gently used clothing for men, women and kids. Tessa uses her parents’ basement as a drop-off location for used clothing, where neighbors and local residents can bring items they no longer want to wear and feel good knowing they can go to someone who will wear it proudly. Tessa sorts through each of the items and organizes them on clothing racks to create a makeshift store of her own.
Each month, she partners with one to two local organizations that need clothing, pulling the appropriate sizes, bagging and delivering the items. Thus far, Tessa has collected over 9,000 items of clothing via donations, partnering with everyone from social media influencers and Girl Scout troops to public school community service officers and her own family members. Whoever Tessa comes into contact with, she shares her message of generosity and encourages others to volunteer, too.
While Tessa has a busy school workload and is preparing to go to college next year, she dedicates 30 to 40 hours per month to The Donation Closet. But her time helping others find comfortable clothing to wear is hardly coming to an end. No matter where she ends up studying next year, Tessa hopes to establish a new branch of the Donation Closet, encouraging sustainability and helping others find the resources they need. Her willingness to help others wherever she goes is a beautiful example of volunteerism.
TESSA SHANE PULLS CLOTHING FROM HER RACKS FOR A FAMILY THAT LOST THEIR HOME AND BELONGINGS IN THE LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES. /COURTESY TESSA SHANE
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I was looking to get involved. I wanted to do something, but I wanted to do something on my own. I’ve always been interested in fashion, and I’ve been interested in helping out in any way that I can. I found this organization, based in New Jersey, called Hoodies for the Homeless. I reached out to them because I noticed that they didn’t have a Michigan chapter, and they offered for me to launch it. I ended up doing a few big donation collections, and they ended up being really successful. As a result, people were dropping off clothing at my house. We were getting inundated with stuff, and we didn’t really know where to put it.
I asked my parents if I could move some of the furniture around in our basement. I got on Facebook Marketplace, and would find places closing and ask for free racks to set up a store in my basement. I was getting stuff for summer and kids, and I thought I could do something bigger. I came up with the idea for The Donation Closet, and I put out there that I was going to partner with different local nonprofits every month. I started building really good relationships with local nonprofits. A lot of them were foster care places, so they would tell me what clothing they needed for each season. At the same time, people were dropping off clothing at my house. Each month, I would go into my basement and curate and pull exactly what they needed.
Tell us about your volunteer role with The Donation Closet.
I take the work out of it for people. I do the legwork of figuring out what local organizations need. They can just drop clothing off and know that it will find a home. In the summer, I have an Instagram page. I figure out who I’m going to partner with for the coming month, and then I post something and announce it. I even have a really cute elementary school that I went to that had a Girl Scout troop that wanted to do something for the holidays, so they collected over 700 pieces of clothing for us to go towards this.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
I’m going off to college at the end of the summer. I anticipate that I’m going to have inventory left over, so I want to have a high school student carry it on locally here. Wherever I end up in college, I’d like to try to do something similar, whether it’s a space that I can find that’s sponsored, or it’s the same idea, where we can work with local organizations and do The Donation Closet in that particular college town.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Probably meeting the families that we’ve helped. We had some families that we helped when the L.A. wildfires happened who had some sort of connection to Michigan, and we pulled a bunch of clothes for them. I think it’s hearing from them and them thanking me, and just acknowledging that we were able to help. I think the most rewarding thing is knowing that I helped somebody.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Two things. One is that I’ve learned a lot about the nonprofit world, whether it’s starting one or working with them. As a volunteer, I’ve seen how much the people who work for these different organizations care about the work they’re doing. I feel like everything started with a really simple idea, and I wanted to do something to help somebody. I saw different opportunities as they presented themselves. I feel like with volunteering, things can take different terms, in the best way possible, where you just meet different people on your path. I ended up learning through volunteering that I actually liked a lot of the inner workings of how to build a nonprofit.
THE DONATION CLOSET FOUNDER TESSA SHANE SMILES ALONGSIDE A LARGE CLOTHING DONATION THAT’S PACKED AND READY TO GO TO ITS RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION, THE CHILDREN’S CENTER OF DETROIT. /COURTESY TESSA SHANE
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Especially as a teenager and being in high school, we spend a lot of time in classes. When you volunteer and do something outside of a school, you’re exposing yourself to so much more in the world. I’ve learned so much just by volunteering and doing what I’m doing. I think it’s important for people to step out of their comfort zone and just explore things. I feel like my time is more focused on important stuff, and it just feels more meaningful.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Do your own research in your local community. Some people might find that they’re more drawn to working with the elderly, or somebody wants to do something to help with gardening. It’s really as easy as Googling and asking what organizations are nearby. If you go on their website, there are so many of them that are looking for help. Every time I’ve reached out to somebody, they’ve been so happy and excited that a young person wants to help. I think it’s just taking that first step.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I think that you can do a lot in high school. A lot of people think that you have to do things one way, like you have to join a club that’s just at your school, or you have to join a sports team. But there are so many other different ways that you can learn and grow and feel like you know you’re making a difference. I think a lot of it, at least for me, was just getting creative and trusting myself. So I think people just have to trust that there are other things to do outside. With high school students, that’s outside of their school walls. Trust yourself and take the steps and reach out to people.
The Quiet Dedication of a Leader Ready for the Storm
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Bill Sommers. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
While many disaster relief volunteers are recognized for their work in the immediate aftermath of a storm, Bill Sommers’ vital contribution begins long before the clouds gather. Since joining Minuteman Disaster Response in 2017 as part of the relief team, he has transitioned into the role of maintenance coordinator, a position that serves as the backbone of the organization’s operational readiness. For Bill, the mission is simple but high-stakes: if the equipment fails, the mission to serve those in crisis fails along with it.
The scale of Bill’s responsibility is staggering, yet he approaches it with the disciplined focus of a master craftsman. He and his dedicated team manage a fleet of over 30 rolling pieces of equipment, many of which are outfitted with complex onboard generators. His leadership shines brightest during their monthly maintenance days, where he rallies a team of volunteers to turn wrenches and run diagnostics regardless of the blistering heat or freezing rain. Beyond these scheduled sessions, Bill spends countless unscheduled days in the shop during the peak of storm season, ensuring that every vehicle is a reliable sanctuary for those who have lost everything.
Bill’s ingenuity has directly expanded the organization’s reach and capability through remarkable feats of engineering. He spearheaded the effort to convert six former U-Haul trucks into fully functional mobile relief vehicles, transforming standard moving vans into sophisticated tools for disaster recovery. This fleet expansion allows the organization to deploy to multiple locations simultaneously, bringing hope to more communities in the wake of hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. His work is not confined to the garage, either; Bill himself has deployed over 17 times, occasionally traveling directly to disaster sites to service equipment in the field under the most demanding conditions.
Bill’s commitment provides a sense of security to his fellow volunteers and a lifeline to survivors. Read on to learn more about his work.
As maintenance coordinator for Minuteman Disaster Response, Bill Sommers leads volunteers who meet monthly to ensure all equipment is in top working order and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
Tell us about your volunteer role.
Minuteman Disaster Response started in 2011. Our mission is to provide assistance in the immediate aftermath of a disaster through the deployment of highly trained and equipped volunteers. We have hooked up with all the emergency response systems because if you go to a disaster, you have to have access to get in; if you aren’t vetted, they will just turn you away. And that’s actually what happened the first time the founders went out in 2011. They went to Arkansas—just four guys in a long trailer with water and supplies—and they got turned away because they didn’t have the proper credentials. On the way back, they stopped for lunch and said, “Boys, we’ve gotta do better than this.” They developed Minuteman Disaster Response from that moment, and it has grown tremendously. This is our 15th year now.
I became the coordinator for the maintenance team, and I have 22 people under me. Usually, the same 10 or 12 regular volunteers show up each month to do the heavy work. Since I live only four miles from where the equipment is stored, I’ll go in two or three times a week to handle the little things, like battery changes, so I don’t have to call my guys in from out of town. When we come back from a deployment, there is always something broken—volunteers can be hard on equipment! I’ve deployed 17 times myself, often doing chainsaw work, and I even taught the chainsaw class for a while. I just turned 75, so I don’t deploy to the field as much anymore. I let the young guys go out and run the chainsaws all day while I stay at the home base. I have plenty of work to do here keeping everything running so that we are always ready to respond.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I didn’t join until 2017. I retired in 2014 after spending 31 years in the U.S. Post Office, then worked for the county for another eight years and retired from there. Prior to that, I served as a Vietnam veteran and a Bronze Star recipient. While that isn’t volunteer work, it is serving. And then I was looking for something to do. I was retired and didn’t want to just sit around and grow old. In 2017, I saw an advertisement for Minuteman in a local weekly newspaper. They were organizing their first relief team, so I went to the meeting and joined immediately. My first deployment was in April 2017 to Canton, Texas, after a tornado went through. We jumped right into the cleanup work.
As we grew, we obtained a lot more equipment. We realized we had to maintain it because if everything is broken, we aren’t helping anybody. Currently, we have about 30 rolling pieces of equipment. This includes a 53-foot, 28-man bunk house and a 53-foot Incident Command Post filled with computers and big screens. We also have two shower trailers and our own skid steers. Most of these trailers have onboard generators that require oil changes every 250 hours, so you have to stay on top of them. We also have two larger generators that can power our entire base camp.
Why is disaster response so important to you?
When we go out there, we see a wide range of needs. I remember a tornado that went through Dallas, which isn’t far from us. We were down there clearing the streets, and we saw that some of the residents had the means to hire landscaping crews to clean up their yards immediately. But the people we typically help can’t afford any of that. They’re stuck.
Our response team used to go in and work for about three days, but as they were leaving, the homeowners would just be returning. Our guys would be pulling out while the residents were standing there, looking at where their house used to be or where their trees once stood. We realized we couldn’t just leave them high and dry; they were helpless. That’s why we got the relief team started. It’s a vital service because you can’t just walk away when the immediate danger has passed.
A lot of people have the capability of paying to have debris removed, but we try to take care of everyone else—the ones who can’t afford to hire the work out. We talk to the homeowners and explain that we can cut the trees down and stack them at the edge of the road for the county to pick up. Inevitably, they ask, “What is this going to cost? I can’t afford that.” When we tell them it doesn’t cost anything, that it’s free, they usually start crying. They are just so thrilled that we are there to help because they don’t have a clue where to even start. We help get them back on their feet.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
It is just so rewarding. When we arrive, people are often feeling helpless and unsure of where to even start. We come in with a game plan because we’ve done this so many times before. To see them get that little glimmer of hope back is incredibly rewarding. You walk away knowing you’ve helped someone who was basically helpless before you arrived. It’s a really, really good feeling.
Bill Sommers and his MDR maintenance team ensure equipment is mission-ready.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
We’ve expanded significantly. We used to operate within a 400-mile radius, but we’ve gone way beyond that now. Some of our supporters have even offered flights for volunteers. For example, when hurricanes hit Florida or North Carolina, we were able to get our equipment there. One of our sponsors told us that if a volunteer commits to three days of work on the ground, they will fly them there and back for free. That opened up all kinds of possibilities; we can basically go nationwide now.
We’ve established branches in Birmingham, Alabama, San Antonio, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. To support this, we bought used U-Haul trucks and built them out ourselves. We installed shelving, organized equipment on the walls and equipped them with generators and all the power tools we need. These smaller trucks can get into areas where our big trailers can’t fit.
This past year, we were deployed in Kerrville for floods and in West Texas at the same time. Because we are deploying to multiple spots simultaneously, we’re building another bunk house. We have to ensure our people have a place to stay, food to eat and restroom facilities. Our goal is to continue branching out nationwide. We’ve noticed that tornado activity seems to be shifting a bit to the East, which is why we chose Birmingham as a branch location. They have their own equipment guy and a shower trailer there now.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I’ve learned that you can do a lot more than you thought you could, when you really put your mind to it. I’ve also learned that if you lead by example, your team will do anything you ask. I don’t ask my maintenance guys to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. If you lead by example, provide the right training and give them a little bit of guidance, it’s unbelievable what people can accomplish. Those guys are just great.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
You truly understand the mission when you deploy and help someone clean up what used to be their home. When people are that hopeless and you step in to help, you learn more about yourself. It is a very worthwhile experience. When you walk away from a site, you’ll know exactly why you signed up because the work is just so rewarding.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
In our organization, there’s a place for everyone. I remember we were down in Refugio, Texas, cleaning up a park. I was the only certified chainsaw operator that day, and we had a skid steer running. One of my team members came up and told me he had hurt his back and couldn’t lift any lumber or branches. Now, there was a sign in that park that said, “Beware of Alligators.” I told him, “I’ve got a job for you. Stay here, rake a little brush if you can, but mostly, just watch our backs for snakes and alligators.”
There is a job for everybody. Some people are comfortable learning heavy equipment like the skid steer (I tried it, but it wasn’t my cup of tea) while others prefer chainsaws. You may think you aren’t doing much, but when you put the whole team together, it pays off. There is something for everyone to do.
Anything else you want people to learn from your story?
Minuteman is a great organization with strong leadership. When people join, they are treated with respect and receive the training they need to go as far as they want to go. We understand that life happens; if someone can’t show up because of work or personal commitments, that’s fine. There will be a time when they can. This culture is what has kept me volunteering all these years. I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon—as long as I’m healthy, I’ll be here.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Kelly Lange. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Kelly Lange has metastatic breast cancer, but that isn’t stopping her from changing the world. After previously being diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 1995, Kelly was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2002. She has undergone endless treatments, seven surgeries and two rounds of radiation. Despite this onslaught of treatment and therapies, she still sees her situation as one of good fortune, and that can largely be attributed to the support system that surrounds her.
Four members of Kelly’s original support group founded an organization called METAvivor, a patient-led, grassroots organization that raises funds toward metastatic breast cancer research. Since 2013, Kelly has served as the leader of the Annapolis regional METAvivor group, a community supporting people with metastatic breast cancer. While doctors are essential components in the course of cancer treatment, Kelly understands that the peer support factor is also necessary. While oncologists are often overworked, the peer-to-peer relationships in support groups can not only serve as an emotional lifeline but also as a drawing board that helps patients identify and communicate their priorities when making treatment decisions. As a result, they can communicate more productively when they do get that coveted one-on-one time with their physicians.
Kelly meets weekly with her support group and arrives with a variety of curated information that members can review on topics ranging from new drug approvals to clinical trials. She also serves as a branch that connects members to people outside the group, facilitating new relationships that might help members navigate their cancer journey more easily. Kelly has seen how essential a role the support group plays, citing evidence that participation reduces anxiety and improves survival and quality of life outcomes for those who are living with MBC. It’s no surprise that more than one member has told her that the group has helped them live longer and better because of the weekly meetings.
Kelly’s willingness to dedicate her time to volunteering for the cause of metastatic breast cancer has changed not only her life, but the lives of countless others. Her dedication shows just how powerful the mission of volunteerism can be.
KELLY LANGE IS THE LEADER OF A SUPPORT GROUP FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING METASTATIC BREAST CANCER. /COURTESY KELLY LANGE
What inspires you to volunteer?
I have been fortunate enough to be very successfully treated for metastatic breast cancer. I’ve been metastatic for over 23 years, which is highly unusual. A lot of women and men only get a couple of years. In some cases, it’s less than a year, because it can be very aggressive. I’ve been extremely fortunate that the drug I’m still on has been working so well for so long. I’m so stable that I just feel like I need to help everybody else with all the experience that I have. It’s very satisfying.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
Over the years, I’ve amassed a lot of knowledge, and collectively as a group, we have a lot of information, experience and knowledge. It’s extremely helpful, especially when you’re newly diagnosed, to talk to other people who’ve been living with it successfully, and it’s just very satisfying to help other people. It’s just comforting to talk to somebody who’s done the thing you’re about to do.
Tell us about your volunteer role with METAvivor.
I organize the meetings, which means on the day before each meeting, I inform participants of the meeting location, whether it will be held on Zoom or in person. I ensure I’m present for the meeting itself, and then during the meeting, we make sure everyone has a chance to discuss their care, health and the group’s progress. If you’re at a decision point in your treatment, which happens a lot, we talk it through as a group, and we help the member make a list of questions to ask the oncologist. Between meetings, I’ll often get emails from the various members asking to be put in touch with somebody who’s had something done, like a liver biopsy. I’ll connect them, making sure that the person who has the information is okay with me giving out her phone number.
I also serve as the State Captain for METAvivor advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. I served on the METAvivor board of directors for 15 years and served as president of METAvivor for two years.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
To continue the support group meetings for as long as I can, which seems like it’s going to be a while yet, which is great. This support group was originally founded in Annapolis, Maryland, and four members of the original support group founded METAvivor, intending to raise money to specifically fund metastatic breast cancer research and provide support and advocacy for people living with MBC. I’m not volunteering for the nonprofit anymore, but they have training to teach people how to start support groups in their own neighborhoods. It’s about enabling other people to do the same thing. They continue to fund research and have funded more than $30 million of research since our founding in 2007.
The nonprofit continues to grow, and we continue to have new support groups start in various areas all over the country. I just want to keep mine going.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Helping other people. I really believe that our support group has extended the lives of some people. I think, and there is evidence that membership in a support group extends life when you have metastatic breast cancer. Part of that might be that the kind of people who seek out a support group are the kind of people who are seeking out knowledge, potentially second opinions, reading about it online… that sort of thing. So they’re very informed consumers and self-advocates for their disease. That might be part of it, but it’s definitely true that if you’re in a support group, you can live longer.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I learned from my members all the time. We’ve had a lot of amazing women in the group, and I benefit from their experience, especially the practical tips. For example, when I finally got a port installed for IV therapy, one of the members in my group advised me not to let my doctor put it under my bra strap. That was a really good tip. More profoundly, I found that I can connect with anybody over metastatic breast cancer. It could be somebody that I would not normally have anything in common with, but we can always connect over the issue of metastatic breast cancer in dealing with the disease.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
I think if you care about an issue or a cause, you can feel helpless if you feel like nothing’s changing. If you volunteer and do a little bit to help that cause, it can really help, especially if you’re anxious about whatever your cause is. You do your part, and you feel better about it.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
We haven’t solved the breast cancer problem. People think that if you make it five years, you’re good, and that’s simply not true. We have women in the group who metastasized 20 or 30 years after their initial diagnosis. People think that stage zero doesn’t metastasize, but it does. We’ve had women in the group who had a stage zero cancer who died of metastatic disease. Our average life expectancy is maybe creeping up a little bit for certain breast cancer subtypes. But in general, we’ve spent a fortune on prevention and early detection, but we haven’t changed the metastasis rate. One in three early-stage breast cancer survivors will develop metastatic disease, and when you do, your average life expectancy is around three years, and that hasn’t changed in decades. We continue to lose more than 40,000 people every year in the US. Worldwide, it’s one every 15 seconds, and that hasn’t changed for many, many, many years. So we have not solved the breast cancer problem. We continue to metastasize, and metastatic cancer kills.
FILLING BELLIES AND WARMING HEARTS AT THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Sophia May. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Sophia May was only 7 years old when she started working at the food pantry. Now, she’s spearheading a movement. While attending church with her grandparents, the family answered the call to help create a food bank for neighbors in need. In that church’s basement, Sophia got her first taste of volunteering when she was asked to sort canned foods. She found that she enjoyed the endeavor and kept at it. The food pantry initiative soon blossomed, and they went on to move to a larger space that could accommodate the needs of more clients. Fast forward a decade, and Sophia is now 17 years old and volunteering as the assistant manager of the same food pantry, now known as the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry, a community food pantry that provides food assistance to residents of 15 villages in the western suburbs of Chicago.
The pantry owes a large part of its success to Sophia, who contributed some vital ideas to its efficiency. With her assistance, the pantry was able to increase the number of people they serve by 25% without increasing hours of operation. Not only does she sort food, manage intake and help neighbors navigate the food pantry with dignity, but she also trains other volunteers to manage tasks so the flow of work can continue more efficiently. Sophia dedicates 12 to 18 hours per month to the pantry, which is quite significant, considering her heavy workload as a high school student.
Because Sophia started volunteering at such a young age, her message to all aspiring volunteers is the reminder that anyone can volunteer, no matter their age. While there may be limitations on what they can do, there’s never a limit on whether or not one can help. Sophia says one of her favorite moments is seeing young people come in with their Scout troops or families to volunteer together. Her message is an important reminder that volunteerism doesn’t have to be limited to adults. Instead, it’s a powerful experience that can be shared by anyone.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
When I was younger, my grandparents and I went to a church in Brookfield, Illinois, and in 2015, there was an initiative in that church to start a food bank for our neighbors in need. We started in the basement 10 years ago. I was 7, so I couldn’t help much, but I could help sort cans. It was work that I really enjoyed doing, and work that I think is really important. So as the food pantry has continued to develop, I’ve continued to be involved in it.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I would say that there’s a lot of injustice in the world. Not just in poverty, but in other areas too. On things like hunger, it’s a very fixable problem where there is enough food produced in the world to ensure that people aren’t going hungry. However, it’s the distribution that’s often the issue, and it’s the monetary barrier. The ability that we have to help our neighbors get those resources, whether it be food or access to opportunities like job training, is really important, because if we can do something about it, why wouldn’t we?
SOPHIA MAY (TOP) CARRIES BINS DOWN THE STAIRS OF THE SHARE FOOD SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY’S OLD BUILDING. /COURTESY SOPHIA MAY
Tell us about your volunteer role with Share Food Share Love.
I’m an assistant manager, so I help train other volunteers. I make sure things are running smoothly. If there’s an issue that needs clarification or if someone needs help in the office, I can help with that. I’ve done almost every job at the food pantry. Every day, we see somewhere between 40 to 80 neighbors and their families, so we need to make sure all of our shelves are stocked. We have people navigate around with shopping carts and we help them make sure they’re getting all the food they need. We keep track of who’s coming, how many people and the possible demand we have in the future. Then we help them load their things into their cars. That’s more of our neighbor-facing side. We have people sorting food from food drives, making sure nothing is expired or damaged, and people who come in and help clean and organize. My grandma and grandpa do a lot of the administrative work and financial stuff.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
Our long-term goal is to keep helping as many people as possible. It’s a shame that there is such a demand, but we want to be able to meet it. We have some new programs in place. We have our Families First program, which focuses on helping young women and children. We have diapers and feminine care products. We’re growing in terms of the things that we offer. We also have a resource center where we’ve slowly been training people to help our neighbors locate things like assistance with jobs, housing and medical information. We’re really just cementing ourselves as people who our neighbors can turn to in times of need when they need a little bit of support.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Honestly, the people that I meet. I’ve been volunteering with a lot of the same people for many years, and it’s been really nice to meet that group of people who all come from different experiences and have different perspectives on the world. We all come together to try and help. Also, meeting the neighbors, because it’s nice to see a change in our community. I get to see certain people who come back every month.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I’ve learned a lot about communication. I think it’s much more rewarding to go around and make sure that they’re getting what they want and what they can use for their family. Whether it’s recommending recipes that they can use for things we have an abundance of, or just making sure that the food that they’re getting is the food that they actually want. I think that’s really important, because it’s very easy to just phone it in, but actually putting effort into it makes everyone’s experience better.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
As I mentioned earlier, hunger is a very approachable problem. Changing the way in which we distribute food is difficult, but not impossible. I think it’s important for people to get involved because it’s very easy to get sad or worried about the state of global issues, but it’s also very easy to volunteer a few hours every weekend and help out where you can.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Find a cause that you care about, whether that be an animal shelter, a food bank or a clothing drive. Find something that you really care about and look for places in the area. You just have to start. There’s no way to easily prepare yourself from afar. You just have to go in not knowing what to expect and try it out. Maybe you’ll like it, and maybe you won’t, but you won’t know until you try. And it’s not a terribly difficult thing to volunteer most time. It’s only a small amount of time and effort out of your day, but it can make someone else’s life a lot easier.
