In my half decade working with social services nonprofits, one of my favorite parts of the job was volunteering. Every time I picked up a paint brush, read to a child, sorted a food pantry or delivered basic needs supplies, I was reminded of the humanity of our work.
It is my great privilege to share some of those stories with you.
Habitat for Humanity
"Today I got to meet LaJuana. She received a home from Habitat for Humanity 11 years ago, which meant it was due for some new paint — not just for aesthetics, but for safety. When she searched for quotes, the initial estimates ran from $2,500-$3,100.
Volunteers from Boston Consulting Group partnered with United Way to visit her and give the house a fresh coat of paint, free of charge. Two of her six grandchildren that she’s helping raise were fast asleep inside, unaware of the transformation taking place outside.
In a neighborhood where some houses were falling apart, grandma’s house won’t be one of them."
July 26, 2019
Boys & Girls Club
"Last Saturday I got to spend the morning volunteering at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta with Accenture. Most of the group worked outside, bringing pops of color to the building by painting picnic benches and planting flowers. Inside, we were tasked with organizing the club’s library. We unloaded boxes and boxes of donated books, each containing dozens of my favorites growing up: Ramona the Pest, the Magic Treehouse series, Amelia Bedelia, Poppleton, Trumpet of the Swan, and of course, anything by Roald Dahl.
The crazy part? Those books had been sitting in boxes for months — simply because nobody sorted through them. The club director explained that the kids didn’t make much use of the library as it fell into disorder. As a lifelong lover of reading, it broke my heart to hear.
That means no sparkly pages of Rainbow Fish. No spunky comebacks from Junie B. Jones. No spooky stories from the Goosebumps series.
Nationwide, the book-to-child ratio in middle- and upper-income neighborhoods is around 13 books per child. In low-income neighborhoods (where we volunteered), that number is 1 book per 300 children. This is a problem, especially in a country where 3rd grade reading levels profoundly affect our communities’ futures.
After three hours, we created a space at the club that makes books accessible. As a result, I hope a kid finds their new favorite story on one of those shelves. Not just for the sake of literacy, but for the love of lifelong learning.
Whether it’s alphabetizing books or painting a picnic table to look like a watermelon, do not underestimate what a few hours of your time can do."
May 1, 2019
Saturday of Service
"Serving more than a half-ton of food to 90 families? Now that’s a Saturday well-spent.
Volunteering has always been one of my favorite parts of my job, and United Way of Greater Atlanta Young Professional Leaders 2019 Saturday of Service was no exception. While my team was distributing groceries, over 300 people showed up across Greater Atlanta to paint walls, assemble toiletry kits, read to kindergarteners... anything at all to give back. It’s hard to not feel grateful."
April 14, 2019
Miscellaneous
"I just closed my laptop for the last time as a United Way employee.
When I first started as a Loaned Executive, I had no idea what the next five years would hold. The 14-hour days, the 3 am campaign presentations, the hundreds of miles spent on the road, the thousands of coins counted for penny wars... The volunteer projects, the ballroom galas, the bake sales, the committee meetings... The donors, volunteers, advocates and teammates, many of whom I am lucky to call friends. I’m so grateful for all of it.
The last volunteer project I worked was the same day as John Lewis’s funeral, which took place right down the street at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. We witnessed the presidential motorcades escort former leaders of the United States to pay their respects to a man who dedicated his entire life to the free and equal treatment of every person in this country.
It reminded me of John’s simple urging: “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
If you’re reading this, go be the person who helps those you will never meet. In the past five years, I have met them — they need you, and they are so grateful, too."
August 14, 2020