- Tell us a little about yourself (background, interests, etc.).
We are long-time Palatine residents, newly retired, and we got involved at POC and Faith Feeds because we were looking for something we could do together where we could help to improve the lives of people in our community.
- What inspired you to start volunteering with POC/Faith Feeds? What’s been the most rewarding part of volunteering so far?
We started volunteering with POC and Faith Feeds because our friends Dan and Lorel had volunteered there for years and said it was a fun way to make a big difference. It is true; you work side-by-side with nice people who also want to help others, so friendships form easily through the shared experience.
- Can you share a memorable moment or story from your volunteering experience?
Through our time at the food pantry, we realized that there were other opportunities available at the same location because POC helps the community in so many ways. There’s a clothing closet, programs for children and adults, a sewing room, and other community services which address the area families’ needs.
Sharing our experiences with others in our network helped us find a connection with a local charity where a large amount of clothing is donated. The people who come to POC’s clothing closet need everyday clothing, so every few weeks, we rescue carloads of hoodies, jeans, jackets, and sweaters from the resale shop and take them to POC. We keep people warm, and good clothing isn’t going to waste.
Since POC has a network of families who use their services, it was also easy to establish a tutoring program where I could use my skills as a former middle school teacher and work one-on-one with students. Equity in education is important to me, and not everyone can afford private tutoring, so this was a way to offer the service to students who wouldn’t have access to it otherwise. I love POC’s friendly staff and their flexibility; they helped me advertise my idea and get the tutoring program started, they communicate with the families, and they set up a schedule that works for me and for the students.
- What skills or experiences have you gained through volunteering? What’s one thing you’ve learned from volunteering that you didn’t expect? How has volunteering impacted you personally or professionally?
Volunteering has increased our comfort level with reaching out to people who have lived different life experiences from ourselves. It’s what our faith tells us is important: love your neighbor. But we thought, if we don’t step outside of our small circle of friends who are just like us, how can we do that? Volunteering helps us reach those neighbors outside of our circle and share life with them. We’re standing in the cold with them, talking about everyday stuff, celebrating with them when the weather is good or there are some particularly nice produce items being given out that day.
- Why do you think volunteer work is important for the community?
Volunteer work is important because it builds connections and strengthens the community when we help each other. Engaging with people who are living different life experiences from our own increases compassion, empathy, and true understanding. Relying exclusively on the news or social media to understand what is going on outside of one’s own neighborhood is not as reliable a source for that kind of information.
- What would you say to someone considering volunteering but isn’t sure where to start?
It’s easy to get started volunteering at Faith Feeds or POC by stopping by the desk at the Community Resource Center. The staff is really nice and will be glad to help you connect with the right contact person. There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities almost every day of the week.
- How do you balance volunteering with other aspects of your life (work, family, etc.)? If you could give one piece of advice to new volunteers, what would it be?
Balancing volunteering with other aspects of your life is easy because you sign up for as many or as few hours as you want each week. You can just check it out and try different types of volunteering on different days to see what suits you and which team of people clicks for you. Some people are there frequently, while others only come in one day a week. There are a variety of jobs to suit people at all stages of life: driving, lifting, sorting, registration, handing out food, etc. Some of the jobs are outdoors, some are indoors. Whatever suits you, there’s a job for you! It’s also easy to take a week off if you’re going on vacation or something; consistency is valued, but everyone understands when you can’t be there sometimes.
- What do you love most about being part of this volunteer team?
It’s great to be a part of a team of people that you like, working together on a shared goal, and interacting with a wide variety of members of our community.