Volunteer Spotlight

"I have been volunteering with my family for years and am happy to share with my children the importance of giving back to our community. One special event we make a point to participate in annually is BVU's Elf Night at the Salvation Army where my family and several friends celebrate the holiday spirit by joining together for a great cause. A few months ago, I was scanning through the BVU's Volunteer Community Newsletter when I read about the need for volunteer drivers for the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program. Truly unique in its flexibility and time requirements, this opportunity was exactly what I was hoping to find—a way to offer meaningful help to people on an on-going, part-time basis while still being able to balance the responsibilities of my job and my children. By driving cancer patients once or twice each week to their medical appointments, I continue to learn so much from what has proven to be a unique experience. Meeting these men and women has enriched my life, and I am so humbled and inspired by their tremendous courage and optimism."

Valerie Burke

"When I lived in Chicago and then Denver, I had many opportunities to support non-profits. I recently moved to Baltimore and was fortunate to learn about BVU. They talked with me about Moveable Feast's request for an executive who could help them with their strategic planning and I was thrilled to volunteer.

Since then, I've had several meetings with the Executive Director of Moveable Feast to discuss the organization today and the new opportunities for them to expand their services. Currently, they deliver specially prepared meals and groceries to home-bound HIV, AIDS and cancer patients who are referred by doctors and hospitals. With the right strategic plan to allow them to grow, Moveable Feast can expand both their geographic boundaries as well as the types of patients they serve—helping even more home-bound patients to build their stamina through nutritious eating.

I firmly believe that the "chain of humanity" is only as strong as its weakest link and that it's critical for all of us to extend a helping hand to others. It means so much to me that BVU linked me to Moveable Feast and has provided me with an opportunity to help this wonderful organization grow."

Sara Jo Light

"As first-time volunteers we didn’t know what to expect when a friend asked us to lead a carpentry workshop for employees of Enterprise Community Partners during their Community Service Day at Great Kids Farm on 9/11/2009. We knew we had to skills to teach others how to use power tools and to build structures out of wood; however, we were nervous because we had never officially volunteered our time to offer a workshop for such a large group of people. When the day started we were feeling excited; however, we were also feeling uneasy because we had to figure out how to work with power tools under the rain. However, when we all started to build the wooden boxes for the farm, we realized that all the volunteers were having fun and feeling energized despite the adverse weather conditions.

When we first agreed to participate in the volunteer event, we also had no idea we were going to be part of a national call to action issued by the president. Participating in the National Day of Service and Remembrance made the entire experience more significant to us. It made us realize that we can truly come together as a nation and unite for a common cause.

Thanks to BVU we realize that volunteering is a great way to meet new people and feel connected to the community. Participating in this Day of Service, allowed us to understand that giving back to the community is a tremendously rewarding experience. We will surely volunteer again and we will turn to BVU to help us find volunteer opportunities that meet our interests and the needs of the community. If not for BVU we would have no idea of the tremendous impact we can make by giving a few hours of our day."

Kevin Stern & Brian Hershfeld

"I was once asked by my little brother, "If you left this earth today, what would you have done to change someone's life?" That really inspired me to look beyond myself and think of others. Throughout the years, the Lord has blessed me tremendously in many areas of my life but what had I done to pass on those blessings? Soon after this conversation, I began to volunteer at local nursing homes as a “friendly visitor”. To see the joy that I brought to the residents just by sitting with them and having a conversation was a gift worth more than I could ever imagine. I soon became very involved with giving back to my community and those less fortunate then myself. Once I moved to Baltimore City, I wanted to find local volunteer and philanthropic opportunities. A friend recommended I look into Volunteer Central and so I attended Volunteer Café. Since the meet and greet, I have been able to use Volunteer Central’s website and Facebook group to find various volunteer opportunities. My most recent find was the BVU Classroom Campaign in which I was able to donate money to help a classroom of high school students purchase USB drives! There is no greater feeling then helping someone and passing on the blessings that you receive in your life. And with the help of Volunteer Central, making a difference never felt so good!"

Airielle Lee

"As I first arrived to the city of Baltimore in the summer of 2006, I was eager to find a volunteer organization that would help enable me to serve the community. After actively working with several organizations I was referred to BVU.  After researching BVU I was enlightened to the different opportunities available for community service in the Baltimore area. Events like the volunteer café, up-to-date newsletters and Make a Difference Day are just a few of the various opportunities I have been able to participate in. With so many diverse events scheduled on a day-to-day basis it is easy for anyone seeking opportunities to get involved. Since becoming involved with BVU I have been able to further expand my experience within the community service field and utilize my talents to assist residents in the community in which I call home. With that being said, I offer my sincerest thanks to BVU. Through my experience with this organization I am able to pursue my passion in philanthropy and better serve my community."

Timothy Clemmons