Individuals volunteer for many different reasons, and Easter Seals means something different to each of them. Easter Seals would not be what it is today without the dedication and commitment of our incredible volunteers. You are the reason we are able to help kids BE KIDS. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Here’s what Easter Seals means to some of our outstanding volunteers:
Terry Douglas and Kendal Douglas
Terry:
“Easter Seals means hope. Life is so overwhelming when you have a child with disabilities. Easter Seals understands this when others have no idea. Inevitably, you need specialized equipment to make life easier and it comes at a huge price. Easter Seals knows this and is there to help. What also happens is you make friends. You meet other fabulous families and people who choose to help by volunteering.”
She says, “a wonderful support system is created-a family. My daughter is now 27 and our whole family-including extended family still chooses to volunteer. We want to give back to othersjust like we were given so many years ago. Time doesn’t cost anything but it goes a long, long way to raising money that makes such a difference in improving the lives of those who need it.”
She concludes by stating this powerful statement, “hope is making a positive difference. Easter Seals improves the lives of children and youth with disabilities every day. That is what Easter Seals means to me HOPE.”
Kendal:
Kendal has been a part of Easter Seals for 27 years. She volunteers because she wants to give back to other families that need Easter Seals. Easter Seals helped her grow and become the person she is today.
“Easter Seals has helped fund essential equipment for my mobility. Without this I would not be able to get where I need to go. This is an obvious thing that people can see. What they can’t see is the confidence I’ve gained by being part of Easter Seals. I was given the amazing opportunity to be an ambassador-showing people who Easter Seals helps by telling my story. I’ve met so many great people and am still making new friends today at every event I volunteer at.”
Kendal had the opportunity to go Easter Seals Camp Merrywood twice and she says, “for the first time I got to just be a kid and have fun. The camp is fully accessible and they have great staff. I believe that from these experiences Easter Seals has helped me gain confidence . That’s why I continue to volunteer.”
Matt Villella
Matt believe Easter Seals is a much needed resource and service. He states, “the work Easter Seals does is soincredible and it allows children to be children which is highly important.”
He has been an Easter Seals volunteer for over 14 years and continues volunteering at every event he can because he understands how much the events mean to the children and families.
He concludes by stating, “without Easter Seals, these families would have more barriers than they already have.” He is appreciative of the fact that Easter Seals helps loosen or eliminate some of the barriers. Moreover he feels that Easter Seals “has great and fun events which is also a bonus.”
Carol Morgan
Carol is passionate about volunteering because she says she wants to give back to the community. She states, “I want to share the skills I have developed in my “work world” and I love helping in any way that I can, meeting new people and learning new things.”
“Easter Seals helped when my daughter needed help. . . It is my way of paying back.”
Nathalie Sitar and Sarah M
Nathalie:
When asked why she volunteers for Easter Seals, Natalie shares, “I really enjoy helping other people and honestly, being able to take the opportunity to help make a difference in a child/youths’ life and their families is the best reward anyone could ask for.”
She says, “volunteering for an amazing organization such as Easter Seals leaves you with a feeling of fulfilment that cannot be described.” As a parent, Nathalie shares how “knowing you are helping children/youths to lead the best everyday life they can and ease some of the unimaginable hardships for their parents is in itself the reward.”
She ends with this important comment, “Easter Seals to me is about giving hope and the simple everyday necessities that so many of us take for granted. It’s about children being able to be children.”
Sarah:
Sarah states, “I enjoy volunteering because I believe it is our responsibility to give back to the community if we have the means to do so. Volunteering is part of being socially responsible while also acting as a global citizen.”
“To help others is to be human, especially in times like these. As Fred Rogers said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people helping.” Plus, it’s never a badthing to make someone smile.”
Jo-Lynn Martinsen
Jo-Lynn shares how volunteering offers endless opportunities to have fun. She loves thatthe events are entertaining and everyone can always look forward to having a good time.
“I love supporting a cause that I care about and affects me personally. I see my daughter and other families in our community that really need help and couldn’t get the support they need without our assistance.”
Jo-Lynn also loves to volunteer at events because she gets to share her knowledge, skills, and experiences with other clients, and the community.
“I’ve made a number of new friends. Volunteering for Easter Seals has given me the opportunity to meet many celebrities, clients, community leaders, and everyday people wanting to participate in events to help the cause.”
She says, “I feel great when I have the opportunity to help someone when doing something unselfish for someone else. As I support an important cause with my time, I want to do even more to make a difference.”
Giovannia Gallo
“Since I was 15, my dad who suffered what should have been a life ending industrial accident, needed so many benevolent hearts to come together and make a young family persevere through tough times.” This is why Giovannia volunteers. She says, “some say gratitude, some say it’s the right thing to do, I believe empathy and benevolence stretched the furthest- when your heart smiles, the gift of laughter, love, and humility is unmatched.”
“Volunteering for Easter Seals gives me the opportunity to help, hear and give time. Not because you have to, because you want to. Open your heart and open your smile. It helps me embrace every moment and ensures that life is worth every breath, every stride, every set back.”