Volunteerism - time to step up!

Last night we had a dinner for 12 of our incredible interns that help tutor, mentor and love on our kids, teens and grandmas. I’m humbled to have such amazing young adults purposely choose to use their free time to be available to provide rides, an ear or some resources to make life better for many in my group. I’m so thankful for the local universities, ASU and GCU, in their passion to connect better with the community by providing academic programs that encourage doing neighborhood work.

It was fascinating to listen to each of our interns share their journey over the last 9 weeks. I know a few were initially overwhelmed with our outside the box teens that live in the fast lane but also crash and burn often. It was just as special to hear returning interns talk about how they were shocked to hear how the kids and teens missed them and ran up to give them hugs and high fives! It was also tragic to listen to our summer interns share the story of the five kids we had placed with us by CPS and the struggles they faced and how that impacted our lives.

I know that it is so easy for someone to go through college and get their degree without ever being involved with any type of non-profit that works with at risk population. It is exciting to see how this opportunity has changed the course of many of our interns who ultimately change their major to reflect their heartfelt sense of calling. This wouldn’t happen without the universities being on board with helping small organizations like mine!

I’m truly thankful for the 100 hours a week of work that our group does with our youth and families. It would be impossible for me to hire staff to do this much work. The benefit works in both directions where our intern’s lives are transformed as much as our youth and families. I value the amount of time that my team puts in on a weekly basis. What are incredible are the relationships that are formed and continue.

We have a few interns that moved away or just don’t have time to be involved. Yet, the kids talk about them often, want their cells and then the college students continue to reach back and ask about how their kids or teens are doing. It is so exciting to see lives being stretched and changed!

I would challenge everyone, regardless of age or life status, to consider volunteering for a local non-profit to make a difference and see their community become healthier!